1. An Evaluation of the Characters Norman and Marion in Alfred Hitchcock’s Film Psycho
In this essay I will analyse a clip from the film ‘Psycho’ and identify how meaning is created
through the use of the different micro-elements.
The scene opens with a low angle mid-
shot of Norman Bates and is also a low angle
shot which makes him seem powerful and in
control of the situation. The use of low key
lighting makes Norman seem ominous whereas
the way his arms are spread out suggests that
he is trying to be inviting and make Marion feel
welcomed. His smile is ambiguous which shows
that it could be the fact that he is glad to have
some company, or a new victim. There is also
the use of non-diegetic sounds of the strings section of an orchestra playing a song in a minor key.
This sound is used as an aural motif throughout the film. The use of a minor key makes the scene
seem more sinister and ominous, and it also gives the audience the impression that something bad
could happen in the upcoming scene and it gives the scene a sense of unease.
Cut to a two/ mid- shot of
Marion Craine and Norman. The fact that they
are sat so far away from each other suggests
that they both feel alone and isolated. Marion
is sat in the foreground, close to the audience
which makes us feel closer to her as we have
seen her in the earlier scene of the film. She is
sat upright, suggesting that she is
uncomfortable with Norman staring at her.
Norman is sat in the background and in the
shadows due to the fact that we know less about him than we know about Marion. He is sat
hunched over with his hands in his lap, fidgeting. This shows his excitement over having Marion at
his hotel and nervousness, as he could be planning to kill her, hoping that she won’t notice this. He
looks uncomfortable suggesting he is feeling guilt, as if he is having an internal struggle because he
likes her and also the ‘Mother’ in him wants to kill her. He is also not used to having company,
especially female. Norman is sat further away us forcing us to empathise with Marion and feel
suspicious towards Norman. The non-diegetic sound continues into this clip where it slowly fades
out so that there is the use of the sound of silence in the background which makes the scene seem
secluded, as though Norman and Marion are completely alone. Hitchcock relies on silence to create
an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.
2. It cuts to the third scene which is a
mid-shot of Marion, who is smiling and
trying to be polite. This suggests that she
feels safe as she doesn’t see Norman as a
threat yet. She is sat upright which shows
that she is uncomfortable and anxious in
that situation. The reason for this could be
that she is feeling guilty that she stole from
her boss or the fact that she doesn’t feel
entirely relaxed around a stranger and in a
room full of dead birds. She tries to hide this with pretending to be confident by engaging in the
conversation. She is not in the centre of the frame which shows her and part of her surroundings
which suggests that she is isolated. The lamp in the right hand corner of the scene shines on half of
Marion’s face, casting a shadow on the other half. The shadowed half of her face suggests that she is
hiding something and the well-lit half indicates that she has a good side. The fact that her face is half
in shadow and in light suggests that her ‘good and ‘bad’ sides are in conflict.
This cuts to the forth scene which
is a mid-shot of Norman who is sat
looking towards the stuffed birds, away
from the audience. This suggests that he
is thinking about killing Marion or trying
not to kill her. The fact that he is in this
shot alone suggests that he is isolated
which could be due to the fact that he
lived alone with his mother and had no
friends. A shadow moves across his face
which suggests that he is being secretive or that the ‘Mother’ side of him is starting to overtake the
‘Norman’ half of his personality and he is losing the battle.
This cuts into the next shot which
is a mid- shot of Norman again. He is off
centre and he is stroking one of his
stuffed birds, he is stroking the bird
subconsciously as he seeks comfort.
Norman’s body language seems more
relaxed as he has leaned back in the
chair. This makes him seem more
comfortable in the situation, as if thinking
about the stuffed birds has given him
confidence. The birds are used through
out the clip as a visual signifier of Norman’s condition. There is also the use of diegetic sound of the
characters speaking. Different lines from the script reveal information about the character so that
the audience can become more familiar with them and can also enhance the suspense of the film
and the curiosity of the audience. An example of this in this clip is, “A boy’s best friend is his mother”
which suggests to the audience that Norman has been on his own for most of his life with only his
3. mother to talk to and that he has been isolated from the world, unable to make friends. It also
shows that his mother is a very dominant and powerful force in his life. The tone of his voice makes
him sound as though he is trying to convince himself that what he is saying is true.
The next shot is a mid-shot of
Norman with one of the birds on the wall
behind his head. The bird is a bird of prey
with its wings spread open as if it were
hunting. By the bird being stuffed and
presented this way, it represents Norman
as a killer, when the ‘Mother’ side of him
takes over and the people he meets
become his ‘prey’. Norman is leaning
forward towards Marion and the low
angle shot makes him look more powerful
in this situation as he fills the frame. He is talking about his mother and the bird behind his seems
almost defensive, as if it is backing-up what Norman is saying. He is leaning forward in the shot
which makes him appear bigger in the frame. Another example of diegetic sound is, “We are all in
our private traps” which suggests that Norman is referring to himself, and the split personalities he
has as ‘Mother’ and ‘Norman’. It tells us that he is trapped and can’t escape from his troubles even if
he may want to.
This cuts to a close up of Norman
who is in the centre of the shot for the first
time. This is significant as it makes the
audience focus on him as the ‘Mother’ side
of him starts to show. This makes him seem
closer to Marion as he is defending his
mother against the fact that Marion asks
“Why don’t you put her someplace?”. He
stares intently at her as if he seemed
almost shocked or upset about what she
has said. The shadowed half of his face is
closer to the audience which shows that the ‘Mother’ side of his personality is staring to take over.
The bird on the table behind him looks as though it is stationary and is not as dangerous as the bird
of prey on the wall. This gives the shot a calmer atmosphere.
4. The next shot is a medium close up of
Marion. This shot brings her closer to
the audience so that we can see her
reactions clearly. The frame is getting
tighter around her which gives us the
impression that she is feeling more
trapped and this makes the audience
begin to feel worried for her. Her
raised eyebrows and concerned facial
expression shows that she is worried
and surprised by Norman’s reaction.
This gives us the impression that she may be starting to realise that she could possibly be in danger.
The next shot is a low angle
mid-shot of Marion which makes her
seem as if she has power over
Norman as she decides to leave and
go to bed. It also makes it seem as if
she has more control over the
situation. She regains control at will
which tells us that Norman is trying
to seem harmless on purpose as the
‘Mother’ side has taken over and he
doesn’t want her to suspect him.
This cuts into the last shot of
Norman who is not in the centre of
the shot. This low angle shot makes
him look almost childlike and weak
and the added light shining on his
face makes him seem innocent. In
this clip Norman asks Marion “Are
you sure you wouldn’t like to stay a
little while longer?”; this use of
diegetic sound gives us the
impression that Norman craves the
extra company and the tone of his
voice makes the interrogative seem almost threatening, as if he is trying to force her to say with him.
The whole film is in black and white which adds the thrill and suspense to the film. The
shadows and use of light seem harsher, emphasising the use of low key lighting in the clip and it also
adds clarity to the film. The set, décor and costumes also adds to the lighting to give the film a sense
of time, for example the fact that the blinds are drawn and the lamp is on in the parlour shows the
audience that it is in the evening, and the outfit Marion has on is associated with the late 1950’s-
early 1960’s.
