Alfred Hitchcock successfully incorporates Gothic conventions within the film Rebecca, based on Daphne De Maurier’s novel written in 1938.Likewise, Edgar Allan Poe’s ability to incorporate Gothic themes within his short story ‘The Tell Tale Heart’, published in 1843, has been a success. Although both their abilities to create Gothic Compositions has been successful, their techniques used to incorporate Gothic conventions within them are both similar and different. Similarities arise when observing the Gothic theme of obsession in that both the texts obsession is explored to the point of madness. Alternatively, the techniques used to explore the Gothic theme of death and loss within both texts contrast, in terms of its effect. This is shown through key scenes in the film Rebecca , and certain extracts from the text the ‘Tell Tale Heart’.
While viewing the film Rebecca, Mrs Danvers’ obsession with the Rebecca becomes evident during her speech of honouring reference towards Rebecca, and the music fluctuations in the background while the new Mrs De Winter explores Rebecca’s room for the first time. During Mrs Danver’s honouring conversation with Mrs De Winter, Hitchcock utilises the musical technique of crescendo to portray the growing obsession with Rebecca that becomes clearer with each new reference uttered from her mouth. Just as Mrs Danver’s reaches for the door, she effectively ends her momentary visit with words that only emphasise her subconscious obsession with Rebecca to the point of madness; “You wouldn’t think she’d been gone so long, would you? Sometimes, when I walk along the corridor, I fancy I hear her just behind me. That quick light step, I couldn’t mistake it anywhere. It’s not only in this room, it’s in all the rooms in the house. I can almost hear it now”.
The Essay on How Do Composers Of Texts Explore Different Ideas Of Belonging?
Belonging is a sense of enlightenment felt when an individual gains an understanding of themselves in relation to others and the wider world. This is just one idea presented about belonging, however there are many different ways to belong and there can be barriers that prevent people from belonging. These ideas of belonging are explored throughout the short story “Neighbours” by Tim Winton and ...
Edgar Allan Poe uses narration in first person, within the ‘Tell Tale Heart’ to adequately describe the persona’s obsession within convincing himself and the audience that he is a perfectly normal non- mad man. In correspondence to the film ‘Rebecca’, the persona explores this obsession to the point of madness, in which he seems to think he has justified reasons for murder. In doing so, Edgar Allan Poe used the literary technique of hyperbole to point out the persona’s madness. While trying to justify his reason for despising the old man; he states “ He had the eye of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold.“
The theme of death and loss is portrayed within the film Rebecca, through Hitchcock’s use of darkening lighting and gradual close up shots in the scene of Ms. Danvers attempt to convince the easy option of suicide upon Mrs De Winter. In this scene Ms. Danvers exposes some of her deepest emotions through expressionless speech; conveying how much she wishes Rebecca was brought back life to task her ‘rightful place’ as Maxim’s wife. Just prior to Ms. Danvers endeavor to bring forth suicide upon Ms. De Winter, the light darkens and the camera closes in on the two characters to convey the importance of what is going to happen. While in attempt to provoke suicide she notifies Mrs. De Winter of Maxim’s apparent urge to bring back Rebecca through these words; “ Why don’t you go…. He doesn’t love you. He wants to be alone again with her”. Through these words it becomes evident that Maxim may not be the person that yearns for Rebecca’s presence but more likely Ms. Danvers; and thus Hitchcock explores the idea of Death and loss in a way that living characters mourn over death and yearn to bring life back.
In contrast to the way that death and loss is explored in Rebecca; Edgar Allan Poe delivers the Gothic theme of death and loss in a way that the persona yearns to take away a life within the short story ‘The Tell Tale Heart’. The literary technique of black humor is used within the statement “Oh, you would of laughed to see how cunningly i thrust it in! I moved it slowly, very slowly, so that i might not disturb the old man’s sleep”; to express his ridiculous delight in murder, while plunging a weapon into the old man, but cringes at the idea of disturbing his sleep. After accomplishing murder the persona proclaims “ I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph”. The statements adequately describe the difference between the effects of incorporating the theme of death and loss within both death within both texts. In Rebecca death is dreaded and in “The Tell Tale Heart” death is yearned for.
The Term Paper on The 1986 Death Penalty: When SMU Was Really Guilty
It’s game night: the two opposing teams fight for a spot to play every college football or team player’s dream: a bowl game and the chance to be champions. To create a victorious team, college athletic boosters travel all around the state recruiting the best players to attend their school and play on their team. What goes on behind the closed doors of recruiting world though, can change the way ...
After analyzing two Gothic themes successfully conveyed within the film Rebecca and the short story “The Tell Tale Heart” it can be concluded that the two texts share similarities and differences within the film/ literary techniques used and their effect. They are similar in that both texts explore the theme of obsession to the point of madness; and they are different in that their attitude towards death is completely opposite.
