Longing For A Way Out Of Our Gloomy Everyday Life Essay Example
Many films are based on ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. Society is deeply invested in their lives and going to a dark theater for an hour or two provides them with the closest experience to adventure or excitement. For most individuals, on-screen relationships are enough to satisfy their desires because they long for an escape from their sometimes bleak daily routines. Alfred Hitchcock recognized and catered to this longing multiple times.
Hitchcock aimed to engage the audience to think and respond with the same bravery as the protagonist. Whether it is a thrilling escape or an eccentric relationship, our focus was on the main character. The absence of our empathy eliminates any conflicts. Unless we care about the character, his actions become meaningless. These situations are particularly apparent in "The 39 steps" and "The Lady Va
...nishes".
Both portray a male protagonist who is just like us and thrusts him into a chain of events that shape him into a hero. The underlying concept behind both stories is that these men are not covert agents or soldiers; they lack any official training for such circumstances, so their actions are purely driven by instinct. This is the primary reason why Hitchcock's "wrong man" scenario captivates us – we can't help but imagine ourselves in their shoes.
Richard Hanny encounters a woman who is part of a criminal syndicate. Despite her true identity being revealed, he remains unaffected and continues to disregard it. It is only after her unexpected death that he chooses to fully engage in the dangerous game. Hitchcock's depiction of an early train scene portrays Hanny's lack of awareness regarding the gravity of his situation. His reaction t
police bulletins and his hesitancy in boarding the train demonstrate his realization that he is in imminent peril.
As he evades the police and enters Pamela Hitchcock's train car, our initial impression of the female lead is undermined as she betrays him. Hannay, however, manages to escape gallantly, transforming into a heroic fugitive through an act of desperation. Journeying to the Scottish countryside, Hannay demonstrates his awareness of his predicament and his newfound cleverness by deceiving a farmer to secure lodging. Before making another bold escape, he expresses gratitude towards the farmer's wife by kissing her.
This passage illustrates how he has become a symbol of courage, inspiring a married woman to betray her husband in order to assist a complete stranger who is a criminal. When Hannay finally reunites with Pamela, he performs his most impressive escape yet – crashing through a police window with one handcuff dangling from his hand, suggesting that his freedom is not yet absolute. Unfortunately, Pamela believes that he is a criminal and seeks aid from two individuals whom she mistakenly assumes are police officers, but are actually accomplices of the criminal, Jordan. As the men take Hannay into custody, they decide to bring Pamela along as well, ultimately handcuffing them together and fulfilling Hannay's need for a partner in his predicament.
While attempting to escape, Hannay and Pamela continuously struggle as he desperately tries to persuade her of his innocence, but his efforts go unnoticed. In order to prevent her from alerting their pursuers, Hannay repeatedly has to restrain her physically. This particular action is an illustration of Hitchcock's intention to portray the growing tension between the two characters. Coincidentally,
upon arriving at a lodging house, they pretend to be newlyweds and eventually become portrayed as adulterous lovers. It is in their room where Hitchcock cleverly introduces a series of embarrassing sexual innuendos that provoke laughter.
They are both attempting to relax and make the most of their situation, but they constantly engage in comedic physical contact. Pamela manages to free herself from the handcuffs by simply sliding her hand out, prompting one to wonder why she did not consider this option initially. This is clearly because Hitchcock wants us to see that she was actually enjoying her time with this peculiar man. Eventually, she overhears the henchmen accidentally revealing their plan and is thrilled to discover that her potential love interest is not a criminal, allowing their romantic relationship to continue. Gilbert's first encounter with Iris is portrayed in a stereotypically masculine manner. He bursts into her room and demands that she arrange for another room for him or else he will be staying the night with her.
Hitchcock initially presents Iris and her friends as confident and independent women. They are seen getting their undergarments serviced by the bell boy, defying the typical passive female roles in Hitchcock's films. However, when Gilbert arrives, Hitchcock portrays Iris as a more submissive woman, as if he has knocked her off her pedestal. As Iris experiences trauma due to the loss of Ms. Froy, she eventually encounters Gilbert, who is visibly attracted to her. Gilbert decides to help her in her search, and Iris, desperate for assistance, accepts it with a hint of delight. At first, Gilbert is not very concerned about Iris' conflict, but as he observes
the situation further, he starts to suspect that something is amiss and begins his transformation into the hero.
When the tea label comically flies onto his window, he immediately goes to Iris to reassure her of his unwavering belief in her and his determination to find Ms.Froy. As they search, they end up in the baggage car and later engage in a physical altercation with the magician. While Gilbert fights, Iris helplessly slaps the assailant, illustrating Hitchcock's depiction of her vulnerability. After Gilbert emerges victorious, he becomes captivated and wants to continue the journey. It appears that Hitchcock's treatment of the female protagonist undergoes as many physical and emotional transformations as that of the male character. As the male character grows stronger, the women become more reliant on them.
Iris and Pamela, both initially strong and independent women, unexpectedly find themselves deeply in love with men they initially despised. It suggests that their previous attitudes and lifestyles were mistaken, and true happiness can only be achieved when they recognize their dependency on these men. The male characters' development is exclusively positive, as they manage to thrive in extraordinary situations. A crucial aspect of this progress is their ability to remember. Hannay is required to remember his innocence, his decision to pursue Ms. Smith's mission, and his ultimate objective in Scotland. All of these recollections contribute to his eventual triumph.
Gilbert is not only responsible for staying aware of Iris' truth, but also for keeping his promise to Ms. Froy to deliver her message. The ability to perform effectively under pressure is an extremely desirable trait. The question that keeps us entertained is whether we could thrive under the
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