Double Indemnity Themes

Lola is the kind of character that the film noir culture celebrates: the demure, dependent woman that wants to secure a stable male relationship, while simultaneously punishing the femme fatale creation as against nature. While Lola fits right into such a society and is the only “truly innocent” character that Double Indemnity celebrates, Phyllis challenges this ideal traditional woman, and in doing so, is punished for it.
Lola displays the characteristics of the shy, dependent woman who looks for leadership among her male counterparts, she can’t thrive in an environment without a man to guide her. Lola puts up with her boyfriend, Nino Zachetti’s quarrelsome nature without ever criticizing him for his defects simply explaining it away to …show more content…
Phyllis in daring to be independent of all the men in her life is shot for it by Walter. Walter’s initial intention after dispensing with Phyllis was to allow Zachetti to go into the house so the police would find Zachetti in close proximity to to the body and he would take the fall, but Walter changes his mind. Walter gives Zachetti a nickel and tells him to call Lola. He says that Phyllis has tricked Lola and she still loves him. Why does Walter do this? Walter is driven by a concern for Lola that she won’t survive on her own without a male influence to act as her protector. While Phyllis’s feminity leads to her self-destruction, Lola’s feminity leads to the reformation of Walter’s character. Her soft and genuine feminity eases his male anxiety and reestablishes his morality. Phyllis obtains nothing that she desires: independence or money. Lola achieves all her ends, a stable relationship, freedom from her father’s authority, and the monetary wealth that Phyllis has always desired. In effect, Lola now has the means to exert independence without being under a man’s rule, yet she chooses to remain subordinate, suggesting that this is what will make a woman happy in life and if she leaves her place she will lead her down a path of