The document discusses the film Vertigo and introduces some key psychological concepts like vertigo, acrophobia, and Freud's theory of the castration complex. It analyzes how the main character Scottie experiences castration anxiety after developing acrophobia and vertigo following a traumatic event, and how this metaphorically removes his masculine abilities and role in society. Several scenes from the film are then analyzed in terms of how they represent Scottie struggling with and attempting to overcome his castration anxiety.

2. Learning Objectives
Identify Key Terms:
• Vertigo
Introduce the
‘Castration
Complex’
Apply the Castration Complex to
key scenes from Vertigo

3. ‘Vertigo’
Vertigo
“a sensation of dizziness or abnormal motion resulting from
a disorder of the sense of balance”
The fact this is the films title gives us reason
to think that Vertigo is a key component of
the film and the characters and deserves
close inspection
The sensation of Vertigo is created by
Hitchcock in these scenes
It was created by zooming forward whilst
the camera tracks backwards

4. ‘Vertigo’
In his essay “Hitchcock’s Films Revisited: Vertigo” film theorist
Robin Wood writes:
“The sensation has been explained I
believe, by psychologists, as arising from the
tension between the desire to fall and the
dread of falling... an idea it is worth bearing
in mind in relation to the whole film
We are made to understand what it feels
like to be so near death, and to have death
made so temptingly easy – a way out of pain
and effort”

5. ‘Vertigo’
We do not see him get down and it appears
that there is no way down for Scottie
It could be argued that the entire film is a
psychological journey through the mind of
Scottie as he contemplates both the
possibility of life and the possibility of giving
up
•Do you agree
with this
This idea introduces the theme: DEATH AS statement?
BOTH ATTRACTIVE & FRIGHTENING as a
major theme of the film •How could you
argue that this
was true?

6. The Castration Complex
The castration Complex is an area of psychology developed
by Sigmund Freud
“Castration Anxiety is the conscious or unconscious fear of
losing all or parts of the sexual organs, or the function of
them”
According to Freud, when a child (male)
becomes aware of both male and
female genitalia he assumes that the
female’s penis has been removed and
becomes anxious that his penis may be
cut off by his rival (father)

7. The Castration Complex
Castration Anxiety may also be metaphorical and refer to
being castrated metaphorically – to have a masculine
feature removed
This can refer to being degraded, dominated
or made insignificant
Men will usually go to extreme lengths to
save their pride and/or perception restored
The quest for restoration can often take the
form of proving virility or sexual dominance

8. The Castration Complex
How can we argue that Scottie has been a victim of the
‘castration anxiety’?
During the film’s opening sequence Scottie, a
Policeman whose purpose is to protect others, fails
and see’s a cop fall to his death attempted to save
him
He develops ACROPHOBIA and suffers from Vertigo
(A masculine features is removed from Scottie)
He is removed from duty and his role in society has
been restricted from him – he has effectively been
‘castrated’

9. The Bell Tower
Analyse the following scenes and make
notes on the following:
At what moments does Scotties weakness
hinder him?
How does his Vertigo restrict his masculine
features?
• What he is unable to do when he
suffers Vertigo?
How does he attempt to cure his
Acrophobia?

10. The Bell Tower
The Bell Tower in the film was designed as a
phallic symbol
Scottie encounters his castration as he finds
out that that Madeleine is out of his control
and runs up the bell tower
We see here that he is suffering from
Castration Anxiety and that he believes
castration can be cured by up-ward movement
As the film progresses he continually tries to

11. The Bell Tower
Scottie is unable to prevent the death of
Madeleine because his Vertigo restricts
him
He is effectively restricted from protecting
others (a part of his previous life) – a
representation of his castration
Read the notes on your handout and
highlight key points