Character Analysis in Psycho
Professor Smith !
Intro to Film !
March 7, 2014 !
Symbolic Character Development in Psycho!
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The film Psycho has two main characters, one being Marion and the other being !
Norman Bates. Marion is the main character for the first half of the film and Norman Bates ! assumes the role of main character after Marion is murdered. In order to enhance Marion’s ! character, the Alfred Hitchcock uses mise-en-scene to symbolize Marion’s character change ! and indecisive choice to steal $40,000 from her employer and his client, which motivates the ! film. The director uses costuming, props, and blocking purposefully throughout the film but ! especially during the scene in Marion’s bedroom after she leaves the office. Along with ! these aspects of mise-en-scene, camera shots enhance the props and perspective of Marion’s ! character and internal conflict. This scene in particular is packed full of symbolic aspects of ! the film’s mise-en-scene.!
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The first change from the scene at the office to the scene in Marion’s bedroom is her ! costume. Costuming is “the clothing and related accessories worn by a character that define ! the character” (Corrigan 77). Costuming contribute to defining changes in the character such ! as the change in Marion in Psycho (77). Marion leaves the scene in the office wearing a light ! colored, pressed, collared dress with a plunging, collared neckline and carrying a vinyl polished white purse. Marion exits the scene to the right, out the office’s front door. The ! scene then dissolves into the next with a graphic match of Marion’s onscreen action as she ! enters from the left of the frame. Marion is now in her bedroom wearing a black brassiere ! and silk slip. This is costume change is drastically different from the white lingerie she was ! wearing earlier that day in the hotel with Sam. Marion puts on a dark colored, collarless ! dress with a high neckline over her black lingerie. The contrasting change in costuming !
Intro to Film !
March 7, 2014 !
Symbolic Character Development in Psycho!
!
!
The film Psycho has two main characters, one being Marion and the other being !
Norman Bates. Marion is the main character for the first half of the film and Norman Bates ! assumes the role of main character after Marion is murdered. In order to enhance Marion’s ! character, the Alfred Hitchcock uses mise-en-scene to symbolize Marion’s character change ! and indecisive choice to steal $40,000 from her employer and his client, which motivates the ! film. The director uses costuming, props, and blocking purposefully throughout the film but ! especially during the scene in Marion’s bedroom after she leaves the office. Along with ! these aspects of mise-en-scene, camera shots enhance the props and perspective of Marion’s ! character and internal conflict. This scene in particular is packed full of symbolic aspects of ! the film’s mise-en-scene.!
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The first change from the scene at the office to the scene in Marion’s bedroom is her ! costume. Costuming is “the clothing and related accessories worn by a character that define ! the character” (Corrigan 77). Costuming contribute to defining changes in the character such ! as the change in Marion in Psycho (77). Marion leaves the scene in the office wearing a light ! colored, pressed, collared dress with a plunging, collared neckline and carrying a vinyl polished white purse. Marion exits the scene to the right, out the office’s front door. The ! scene then dissolves into the next with a graphic match of Marion’s onscreen action as she ! enters from the left of the frame. Marion is now in her bedroom wearing a black brassiere ! and silk slip. This is costume change is drastically different from the white lingerie she was ! wearing earlier that day in the hotel with Sam. Marion puts on a dark colored, collarless ! dress with a high neckline over her black lingerie. The contrasting change in costuming !