Mirrors As Windows

Being the neighborhood “Peeping-Tom” is a title that few people would want to live with. In the film Rear Window, this label is one that L.B. Jefferies fits perfectly. Stuck in a wheelchair for what seem like endless weeks, Jefferies amuses himself by watching his neighbors through his window. While most other characters in the film disapprove of his watchful eye, Jeff does it purely out of entertainment. What started as an innocent way to pass time suddenly became a murder mystery. While Thorwald’s window is the one with most of the action, each and every one of Jefferies’ neighbors give insight to what his life could end up like, depending on the decisions he makes. In the film, the windows not only act as a distraction, they act as mirrors as well.
The first window is quite possibly the most popular one for Jefferies. By watching Lars Thorwald’s window, Jeff does indeed witness a murder but he sees something else as well. Throughout the entire film, Lisa is constantly nagging Jeff about marriage and being committed to their relationship. When Jefferies looks in the window which leads to the Thorwald’s flat, he sees a man who is so annoyed with his wife that he puts himself out his misery and murders her. While Lisa has many other attributes besides her bothersome ways, Jeff can’t help but see his and Lisa’s future every time he glances in that window and sees an irritating wife and miserable man.
Another window which catches Jefferies’ attention is one that belongs to “Miss Lonelyhearts.” In the film, we see this sorrowful woman with so much love, but no one to give it to. In one scene, we actually see her having a date with an invisible person, just to act as though she had someone to spend her nights with. Of course, reality sets in and she comes to term with her loneliness. This window is a mirror for Lisa. When she gives Jeff everything she can, she still feels inadequate. John Fawell wrote in his critical essay on Rear Window, “Lisa has all of the same needs as these women. She finds no response from Jeff to her beauty or loneliness, and his concern for Mrs. Thorwald, his sympathy for Miss Lonelyhearts, and his erotic interest in Miss Torso all represent ironic counterpoint to his cruelty and indifference towards her (Fawell 5).” His rejection to her leaves her feeling lonely and as if she’s not good enough for him. Lisa puts all her effort into she and Jeff’s relationship, while it seems Jeff hardly gives at all.
Another similarity between Jefferies and his neighbors is the discouraged composer which lives across the courtyard. In the film, we see this composer constantly working on his music at his piano, and never feeling satisfied with his work. In one scene, we actually see him blast his papers across his room. This frustration is that same way Jefferies is feeling with his career. In one of the opening scenes, Jeff’s boss calls him and informs him that one of the biggest stories will be given to another photographer, instead of him. This of course highly upsets Jeffries, much like the anger the composer is feeling with his music. Luckily, both men find a way to work past their setbacks. The composer hosts an elegant party with many friends while he entertains playing the piano and Jefferies focuses his energy on the murder involving the Thorwald’s.
The main feminine character in Rear Window, is the lovely Lisa Fremont. She is described as a woman who could have any man she chooses and is also a popular socialite. While Lisa is madly in love with Jefferies, he tends to shift his attention elsewhere. Rather than spend time with Lisa, Jeff watches “Miss Torso,” a beautiful young woman who lives across the courtyard. The mirror effect in this scenario is that Jefferies sees the same traits in both Miss Torso and Lisa. According to Fawell, Jeff ignores real-life love in Lisa, instead investing himself in a fantasy woman who lives in the apartment building across his courtyard and who he watches through binoculars and the telephoto lens of his camera--the sexy Miss Torso (Fawell 3). Both women give off a sense of exhibitionism which attracts many men, including Jeff.
Lisa’s persistence of she and Jeff’s marriage is a recurring theme throughout the film. Jeff fears what life will be like with Lisa as his wife, and sees examples of what marriage does to people merely by looking out his window.
In one window lives a newlywed couple. At first they are uncontrollably happy and couldn’t be any more in love. While it all seems perfect in the beginning, the husband soon becomes exhausted of his wife. In repeated scenes, the audience sees the husband lifting up the window shade, which stays down for the most part, and opening up the window. He pokes his head out the window and lights a cigarette, enjoying his moments of freedom from his wife. Then, within seconds, she calls him back in and he returns back to his wife. Jeff sees this man as being way too tied down and couldn’t imagine his life being like this.
While the film Rear Window entertains audiences with L.B. Jefferies peering into his neighbor’s lives, it is clear that he is not only seeing them, but he is seeing himself as well.