Writing about ‘Rear Window‘, but unsure which quotes are most effective, relevant, or useful? This article provides an easy summary of 50 excellent quotes, and gives you an overview of 4 themes that you could use in your essay.
Since Rear Window is a film, your analysis will need to involve visual/film techniques as well. The quotes below will help to enhance your analysis of the film through dialogue.
Keep scrolling for our top Rear Window quote picks!
Gender Roles
Marriage
Morality, Ethics and Voyeurism
Dissatisfaction and Confinement
Rear Window Quotes about Gender Roles
The theme of gender roles is an important aspect of the film ‘Rear Window‘, as it explores the expectations placed on men and women in the 1950s.
The film depicts a traditional view of gender roles, with men being the breadwinners and women being confined to the domestic sphere. Jefferies, the male protagonist, is a successful photographer who is used to being in control and taking risks. Lisa, the female protagonist, is initially presented as a fashion model who is more concerned with her appearance than with solving a crime.
However, as the film progresses, the gender roles of the two characters begin to shift. Jefferies is confined to a wheelchair and is forced to rely on Lisa’s help to solve the mystery. Lisa, in turn, proves to be a strong and resourceful character who is capable of taking risks and solving problems.
The film challenges traditional gender roles by showing that women can be just as capable as men, and that men can be vulnerable and in need of help from women. This is particularly significant given the context of the 1950s, when women’s roles were often limited to the domestic sphere.
The theme of gender roles is also explored through the supporting characters in the film. Stella, the nurse, is portrayed as a strong and independent woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. Miss Torso, the dancer who lives across the courtyard, is objectified by Jefferies and the other male characters, highlighting the sexualisation of women in society at the time.
Overall, the theme of gender roles in ‘Rear Window’ serves to challenge traditional gender stereotypes and highlight the strength and capabilities of women.
#1: “I’d say she’s doing a woman’s hardest job: juggling wolves.”
- Techniques: Metaphor, hyperbolic language, negation (of Jeff’s arguments), role reversal
- Characters: Lisa (speaker), Miss Torso (subject)
#2: “Where does a girl have to go before you notice her?” “Well, if she’s pretty enough, she doesn’t have to go anywhere. She just has to ‘be’.”
- Techniques: Irony, dismissive tone
- Characters: Lisa (speaker 1), Jeff (speaker 2)
#3: “She sure is the ‘eat, drink and be merry’ girl.” “Yeah, she’ll wind up fat, alcoholic, and miserable.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, metaphor, juxtaposition
- Characters: Stella (speaker 1), Jeff (speaker 2), Miss Torso (subject)
#4: “When they’re in trouble, it’s always their girl Friday who gets them out of it.”
- Techniques: Irony, metaphor, allusion
- Characters: Lisa (speaker), Jeff
#5: “Why don’t I slip into something more comfortable?…I mean, like the kitchen and make us some coffee.”
- Techniques: Negation, metaphor (for women’s roles)
- Characters: Lisa (speaker), Jeff
#6: “Jeff, wives don’t nag anymore, they discuss.”
- Techniques: Dismissive language/tone, generalisation
- Characters: Gunnison (speaker), Jeff
#7: “Why, a woman going anywhere but the hospital would always take make-up, perfume and jewellery.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, irony, satire
- Characters: Lisa (speaker), Jeff
#8: “That feminine intuition stuff sells magazines but in real life, it’s still a fairy tale.”
- Techniques: Contrast, dismissive tone
- Characters: Doyle (speaker), Lisa, Jeff
Rear Window Quotes from Jeff about Gender Roles
#9: (when Stella brings Jeff breakfast) “I can’t tell you what a welcome sight this is. No wonder your husband still loves you.”
- Techniques: Hyperbolic language, objectification
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Stella
#10: “Is this the Lisa Fremont who never wears the same dress twice?” “Only because it’s expected of her.”
- Techniques: Irony, subversion, objectification
- Characters: Jeff (speaker 1), Lisa (speaker 2)
#11: “Well, that’s fine, Stella. Now would you fix me a sandwich please?”
- Techniques: Dismissive tone, rhetorical question
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Stella
#12: “She’s too perfect, she’s too talented, she’s too sophisticated, she’s too everything but what I want.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, ironic tone, polysyndeton
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Stella, Lisa (subject)
#13: “Someone who thinks of life not just as a new dress and a lobster dinner and the latest scandal.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, polysyndeton, dismissive tone
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#14: “Those high heels will be great in the jungle. And the nylons and those six-ounce lingerie.”
- Techniques: Sarcasm, irony, trivialisation
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Lisa (subject)
Quotes about Marriage from Rear Window
The theme of marriage is an important aspect of the film ‘Rear Window‘, as it explores the complex dynamics of romantic relationships.
Throughout the film, the main characters Jefferies and Lisa have different views on marriage. Jefferies is initially hesitant to commit to a long-term relationship with Lisa, as he is used to his independent and adventurous lifestyle. Lisa, on the other hand, is eager to settle down and start a family, which is a more traditional view of marriage.
The film also explores the theme of marital relationships through the supporting characters. The Thorwalds, the married couple who live across the courtyard from Jefferies, have a troubled and dysfunctional relationship. Mr. Thorwald is suspected of murdering his wife, highlighting the potential dangers and challenges of marriage.
The film also touches on the theme of infidelity, as Jeffries becomes suspicious of the relationship between Miss Lonelyhearts and the musician. This highlights the challenges and temptations that can arise in romantic relationships.
Overall, the theme of marriage in ‘Rear Window’ serves to explore the complexities and challenges of romantic relationships. It highlights the different perspectives and expectations that individuals can have in relationships, as well as the potential dangers and temptations that can arise. Through its exploration of this theme, the film provides a nuanced and complex portrayal of marriage and romantic relationships.
#15: “Sometimes it’s worse to stay than it is to run.”
- Techniques: Irony, contrast, bitter tone
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Stella
#16: “If you don’t pull me out of this swamp of boredom, I’m going to do something drastic…I’m gonna get married and then I’ll never be able to go anywhere.”
- Techniques: Hyperbolic language, irony, metaphor (marriage as a trap)
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Gunnison
#17: “When two people love each other, they come together – WHAM – like two taxis on Broadway, not sit around analysing each other like two specimens in a bottle.”
- Techniques: Simile, metaphor, exclamation
- Characters: Stella (speaker), Jeff
#18: “Maybe one day she’ll find her happiness.” “Yeah, and some man’ll lose his.”
- Techniques: Sarcastic/dismissive tone, contrast
- Characters: Stella (speaker 1), Jeff (speaker 2)
#19: “I’m in love with you. I don’t care what you do for a living. I’d just like to be part of it somehow. It’s deflating to find out the only way I can be part of it is to take out a subscription to your magazine. I guess I’m not the girl I thought I was.”
- Techniques: Monologue, metaphor, self-reflection
- Characters: Lisa (speaker), Jeff
#20: “Yeah, can’t you just see me, rushin’ home to a hot apartment to listen to the automatic laundry and the electric dishwasher and the garbage disposal…the nagging wife.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, polysyndeton, sarcasm, exaggeration
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#21: “Lisa’s loaded to her fingertips with love for you.”
- Techniques: Metaphor, hyperbolic language
- Characters: Stella (speaker), Jeff
#22: “She expects me to marry her.” “That’s normal.” “I don’t want to.” “That’s abnormal.”
- Techniques: Contrast, negation
- Characters: Jeff (speaker 1), Stella (speaker 2)
#23: “Where’s that music coming from?” “Oh…some songwriter. In the apartment. Lives alone. Probably had an unhappy marriage.” “I think it’s enchanting. Almost as if it were written for us.” “No wonder he’s having so much trouble with it.”
- Techniques: Irony, contrast, negation
- Characters: Lisa (speaker 1), Jeff (speaker 2)
#24: “Once it was see somebody, get excited, get married. Now, it’s read a lot of books, fence with a lot of four-syllable words, psychoanalyse each other until you can’t tell the difference between a petting party and a civil service exam.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, hyperbolic language, satire
- Characters: Stella (speaker), Jeff
#25: “Can’t we just sort of keep things status quo?” “Without any future?”
- Technique: Rhetorical questions
- Characters: Jeff (speaker 1), Lisa (speaker 2)
#26: “There’s an intelligent way to approach marriage.” “Intelligence! Nothing has caused the human race so much trouble as intelligence. Hah! Modern marriage!”
- Technique: Exclamation, hyperbolic language
- Characters: Jeff (speaker 1), Stella (speaker 2)
#27: “When I married Miles, we were both a couple of maladjusted misfits. We are still maladjusted misfits, and we’ve loved every minute of it.”
- Techniques: Metaphor, contrast
- Characters: Stella (speaker), Jeff
Rear Window Quotes about Morality, Ethics and Voyeurism
The themes of morality, ethics, and voyeurism are central to the film ‘Rear Window’, as the plot revolves around the protagonist’s voyeuristic tendencies and his moral and ethical responsibilities as a witness to a potential crime.
The theme of voyeurism is explored through the character of Jefferies, who spends much of the film observing his neighbours through his rear window. His voyeuristic tendencies are initially presented as harmless and even playful, as he uses his binoculars to spy on his neighbours’ private lives.
However, as the plot develops and he becomes convinced that Mr. Thorwald has murdered his wife, Jeffries is forced to confront the ethical implications of his voyeurism. He is torn between his desire to solve the crime and his reluctance to intrude on his neighbours’ privacy.
The themes of morality and ethics are also explored through the character of Lisa, who represents a more traditional view of right and wrong. She urges Jeffries to go to the police and report his suspicions, highlighting the importance of upholding moral and ethical standards.
Overall, the film highlights the potential dangers and ethical implications of voyeurism, as well as the importance of moral and ethical responsibility. It challenges the audience to consider the implications of observing and intruding on others’ private lives, and encourages them to uphold ethical and moral standards even in difficult situations. Through its exploration of these themes, the film provides a thought-provoking commentary on the nature of morality, ethics, and voyeurism in contemporary society.
#28: “I wonder if it’s ethical to watch a man with binoculars, and a long-focus lens—until you can see the freckles on the back of his neck, and almost read his mail. Do you suppose it’s ethical even if you prove he didn’t commit a crime?”
- Techniques: Polysyndeton, rhetorical questions, hyperbolic language
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#29: “Sitting around, looking out a window to kill time is one thing, but doing it the way you are with, with binoculars, and with wild opinions about every little movement you see is … is, is diseased!”
- Techniques: Metaphor, exclamation, hyperbolic language
- Characters: Lisa (speaker), Jeff
#30: “We’ve become a race of Peeping Toms.”
- Techniques: Metonym, metaphor, exaggeration
- Characters: Stella (speaker), Jeff
#31: “That’s a secret private world you’re looking into out there. People do a lot of things in private they couldn’t do in public.”
- Questions the ethics of Jeff’s voyeurism.
- Techniques: Juxtaposition
- Characters: Doyle (speaker), Jeff
#32: “Then make sure you don’t get caught, that’s all. If you find something, you have a murderer. They’d probably not care very much about a few broken house rules.”
- Techniques: Diction, subversion
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Doyle
#33: “What’ll you do if one of them catches you?” “Depends on which one.”
- Techniques: Situational irony, rhetorical question
- Characters: Stella (speaker 1), Jeff (speaker 2)
#34: “Jeff, you know if someone came in here, they wouldn’t believe what they’d see. You and me with long faces plunged into despair because we find out a man didn’t kill his wife. We’re two of the most frightening ghouls I’ve ever known.”
- Techniques: Metaphor, irony
- Characters: Lisa (speaker), Jeff
#35: “You don’t know the meaning of the word ‘neighbour.’ Neighbours like each other. Speak to each other. Care if anybody lives or dies. But none of you do.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, diction
- Characters: woman on fire escape (speaker)
#36: “What people oughta do is step outside their house and take a look in.”
- Techniques: Rhetorical language, juxtaposition
- Characters: Stella (speaker), Jeff
#37: “I’ve seen it through that window. I’ve seen bickering and family quarrels and mysterious trips at night, knives and saws and ropes, and now since last evening, not a sign of the wife.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, listing, diction
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#38: “You say, ‘Judge, it was only a bit of innocent fun. I love my neighbours, like a father.’ And the judge says, ‘Well, congratulations. You’ve just given birth to three years in Dannemora.’”
- Techniques: Metaphor, allegory
- Characters: Stella (speaker), Jeff
#39: “I just want to find out what’s the matter with the salesman’s wife. Does that make me sound like a madman?”
- Techniques: Rhetorical question, irony
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#40: “I usually took my best pictures on my day off.”
- Techniques: Irony, metaphor
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Doyle
#41: “Now don’t get me angry. This is America. Not even a detective can just walk into an apartment and search it.”
- Techniques: Situational irony (regarding Jeff’s voyeurism)
- Characters: Doyle (speaker), Jeff
Dissatisfaction and Confinement
The themes of dissatisfaction and confinement are important aspects of the film ‘Rear Window’, as they reflect the feelings of the main characters and contribute to the tension and suspense of the plot.
The theme of dissatisfaction is explored through the character of Jefferies, who is confined to his apartment and becomes increasingly frustrated with his inability to pursue his passion for photography and adventure. He is dissatisfied with his current state and feels confined by his physical limitations.
The theme of confinement is also explored through the setting of the film, which takes place entirely within the confines of Jefferies’ apartment and the surrounding courtyard. This contributes to the sense of claustrophobia and tension that pervades the film, as the characters are unable to escape their confinement and must confront their fears and anxieties.
Additionally, the theme of confinement is reflected in the portrayal of the supporting characters. Many of the characters in the film are confined by their social roles and expectations, and they feel dissatisfied with their limited options and opportunities.
Overall, the themes of dissatisfaction and confinement in ‘Rear Window’ serve to highlight the tension and suspense of the film, as well as the challenges and limitations that individuals face in their daily lives. The film encourages the audience to reflect on their own feelings of dissatisfaction and confinement, and to consider how they can overcome these limitations and pursue their passions and dreams.
#42: “Next Wednesday, I emerge from this plaster cocoon.”
- Techniques: Allegory, metaphor
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#43: “She’s too perfect, she’s too talented, she’s too sophisticated, she’s too everything but what I want.”
- Techniques: Irony, tricolon
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#44: “I can hear you now: ‘Get out of my life, you wonderful woman. You’re too good for me.’”
- Techniques: Irony, contrast, hyperbole
- Characters: Stella (speaker), Jeff
#45: “She belongs to that rarefied atmosphere of Park Avenue, you know. Expensive restaurants, literary cocktail parties. Can you imagine her tramping around the world with a camera bum who never has more than a week’s salary in the bank? If she was only ordinary.”
- Techniques: Bitter/dismissive tone, exaggeration
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#46: “According to you, people should be born, live, and die in the same place.”
- Techniques: Tricolon, hyperbolic language
- Characters: Lisa (speaker), Jeff
#47: “What do you want from me? Your friend, the girl, could have turned me in. Why didn’t she? What do you want? A lot of money? I don’t have any money. Say something. Say something! Tell me what you want!”
- Techniques: Exclamation, truncated sentences, diction
- Characters: Thorwald (speaker), Jeff
#48: “Six weeks…with nothing to do but look out the window at the neighbours.”
- Techniques: Irony, bitter tone
- Characters: Jeff (speaker)
#49: “Men, are you over 40? When you wake up in the morning, do you feel tired and rundown? Do you have that listless feeling…”
- Techniques: Rhetorical questions
- Characters: voice on radio (speaker), Jeff
#50: “I get myself half-killed for you and you reward me by stealing my assignments.”
- Techniques: Hyperbolic language, bitter tone
- Characters: Jeff (speaker), Gunnison
On the hunt for quotes from other texts?
Check out our list of quotes for the following texts:
- The Crucible
- Billy Elliot
- A Streetcar Named Desire
- Blade Runner
- The Truman Show
- The Book Thief
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Never Let Me Go
- Little Miss Sunshine
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
- Things Fall Apart
- Jasper Jones
- The Great Gatsby
- The Memory Police
Are you looking for some extra help with your analysis of quotes from Rear Window?
We have an incredible team of English tutors and mentors!
We can help you master your analysis of quotes from Rear Window by taking you through the summary, context, key characters and themes. We’ll also help you ace your upcoming English assessments with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or online!
We’ve supported over 8,000 students over the last 11 years, and on average our students score mark improvements of over 20%!
To find out more and get started with an inspirational tutor and mentor, get in touch today or give us a ring on 1300 267 888!
Rujuta Banhatti is currently a third year Law/International Studies student at UNSW. As a Content Writer at Art of Smart, she is super keen to be able to write (read: academically rant) about texts that she’s absolutely loved, both at school and in general.
