Essay On Rear Window

In society, we are faced with a common issue regarding whether or not two wrongs make a right. If an individual were to solve a crime by committing a crime, have we really advanced as a society? The film Rear Window, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is centered around this question of ethics. Being handicapped and limited to the rear window in his apartment, L.B Jefferies passes time by watching his neighbors live their lives. As the story goes on, it becomes apparent that one of his neighbors has been involved in a murder and Jefferies seems to be the only one capable of solving the crime. While Jefferies may have solved a crime, it was unethical for him to be spying on his neighbors in the first place. It became clear throughout the film
It was mentioned earlier in the essay that his intentions were not to be spying, but, it is questionable whether or not the solving of the murder was just. In the criminal justice system, there are controversial debates regarding whether or not solving a crime based on unethical actions is just. In many cases, police officers conduct searches on vehicles and houses out of jurisdiction resulting in the retrieval of evidence that can not be used in court. This can be directly compared to the actions of the detective in the film. When Jefferies informs the detective about the crime, he is hesitant to look into the case due to the fact that he works in the legal field and is aware of whether or not a case is worth pursuing. A statement from Jefferies claiming his neighbor has been acting suspicious is not nearly enough of a reason for the detective to conduct a search. In life, individuals are traditionally taught to worry about themselves considering each person has a right to their privacy. With that being said, it can be argued that unless Jefferies was in immediate danger, it was unethical for him to continue spying on Thorwald.
To finalize, it is questionable whether or not Jefferie’s actions throughout the film Rear Window were ethical. It can be inferred that Jefferies was not intending to spy on his neighbors until he was made aware of suspicious activities.