Alfred Hitchcock Feminism

A Hitchcockian Twist: Males Fighting Patriarchy, Females Reinforcing It
Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most recognized directors of the Golden Age of Hollywood for his suspenseful and meticulously designed films. Although Hitchcock experimented with a few bold camera movements, the majority of his films followed the Hollywood style known for its seamless camera techniques aiming to depict reality. The reality shown on screen is limited to the perspective of a single protagonist, since the narrative is “psychologically and, therefore, individually motivated” (Hayward, 64). Analyzing the ways in which cinema recreates an illusion of reality through plot devises and character arcs exposes how “contrived and limited [on screen reality] is and yet
In order to achieve a relationship with Devlin, she must turn into a woman representative of the dominant patriarchal ideology. Alicia’s rapid infatuation with Devlin perpetuates monogamous heterosexual relationships as a woman’s most desired achievement and male control over the decision. As Alicia desperately tries to convince Devlin of her change in behavior, she shames herself in the process. However, Alicia’s character is only criticized for multiple sexual partners, her open sexuality is actually encouraged in the film with a widely popularized three-minute scene of intimate kissing. Although the scene was sensationalized, it was not centered on Alicia as the seductress, but portrayed them both on an intimate level with even camera levels and equal screen space. Conflictingly the scene also portrays Devlin as superior by refusing to verbally confirm his reciprocated love. When Devlin’s coworkers reveal to him their plan to use Alicia’s promiscuity to spy on a Nazi group, he is reminded of Alicia’s history by the dominant society. Devlin chooses to believe the ideology’s representation of Alicia rather than Alicia