Peter Greenaway, author of Defining Narrative, studied narrative structure in films, explaining varying narratives. Within this analyzation, Greenway addresses the 1960 adaptation of Psycho. “Hitchcock makes masterful use of restricted narration, preventing the audience from learning one critical aspect of Norman's story-the true nature of his relationship with his mother-until the end of the film.” (Greenway 82). Although present in a majority of the film, three significant examples will be analyzed how restricted narration in Hitchcock's Psycho, works effectively in film. From the start of the film the viewer followers Marione, up into her unfortunate death at Bates Motel.
However, during Marione’s living moment’s at the motel, the audience follows Marione to a window where we hear two voices shouting, one clearly Norman and the other an older woman, who Norman says is his mother. This scene is the start of all the scenes that work toward convincing the audience that Norman Bates mother is alive. It restricts Marione from knowing the true source of the noise since it comes from far off, inside another building, only leaving her and therefore the …show more content…
The audience can hear Norman speaking with Mother, trying to convince her to hide, and this alone further establishes the illusion that Norma Bates is alive. Then, as the camera reaches the top floor it moves up to look directly down the stairway, perfectly timing to when Norman forcefully carries what the audience believes to be the figure of his mother. This choice of angling allows Hitchcock to build on Norman’s delusion. If the audience saw a skeleton from Norman’s perspective, it would be unfaithful to his character’s fantasy that his mother survived. Therefore making this scene a clever use of prolonging the reveal, as well as properly
However, during Marione’s living moment’s at the motel, the audience follows Marione to a window where we hear two voices shouting, one clearly Norman and the other an older woman, who Norman says is his mother. This scene is the start of all the scenes that work toward convincing the audience that Norman Bates mother is alive. It restricts Marione from knowing the true source of the noise since it comes from far off, inside another building, only leaving her and therefore the …show more content…
The audience can hear Norman speaking with Mother, trying to convince her to hide, and this alone further establishes the illusion that Norma Bates is alive. Then, as the camera reaches the top floor it moves up to look directly down the stairway, perfectly timing to when Norman forcefully carries what the audience believes to be the figure of his mother. This choice of angling allows Hitchcock to build on Norman’s delusion. If the audience saw a skeleton from Norman’s perspective, it would be unfaithful to his character’s fantasy that his mother survived. Therefore making this scene a clever use of prolonging the reveal, as well as properly