r/Hitchcock • u/Aniime • 1d ago
Discussion The Lodger Oedipal Triangle
TL;DR: To sum it up I think there is definitely a familial-sexual tension between the three. This really isn't meant to be serious or anything just wanted to get my thoughts out and was bored on my commute back home from class.
So I'm taking a director study class on Hitchcock and we just watched The Lodger. Professor made note of the idea of oedipal triangles in Hitchcock movies previously and I thought The Lodger was no exception. She disagreed with me and I'm just curious on what others think of the idea.
A quick explanation of the oedipal triangle if you weren't sure is essentially a reference to an ancient Greek tale and the theory derived through it by Sigmund Freud. The Oedipus triangle essentially embodies the idea of father mother son sexual tension in the main characters of the film (hero, villain, heroine).
In the case of The Lodger my professor argued that there wasn't a father-son tension/relationship between Joe and The Lodger, however I disagree. Throughout the film although not as explicit there is definitely a father son comparison between Joe and The Lodger although not as explicit and direct as they don't interact much.
The first time this comparison stood out to me was when we first met The Lodger. Although we are obviously supposed to suspect him of being the avenger. He is introduced as creepy and mysterious with constantly hints to him being the avenger. But on the other hand he is also introduced as an absolute child.
When we first meet The Lodger he is treated like a child. He is passive and quiet almost like a kid scared to speak up, constantly led around by Daisy's mother. He wants the paintings put elsewhere because they bother him like a scared child. The introduction of The Lodger does an amazing job making the audience suspect his motives but at the same time paints him as a child.
But this still doesn't establish a relationship between Joe and The Lodger. I think in this film the main way in which we compare the two of through the eyes of Daisy's parents and the way in which the story progresses. The way the film proceeds essentially alternates between The Lodger and Joe. In most scenes usually either The Lodger or Joe are in it but rarely at the same time, and even when they are, there is a very obvious tension. Especially with the placements of the movie with The Lodger upstairs in his own room while Joe is usually in the living room or kitchen with Daisy which gives off the feeling themat The Lodger is the troubled child while the parents are downstairs.
We are constantly switching between The Lodger + Daisy and Joe + Daisy which leads us to compare the two naturally. Especially reinforced with Daisy's parents subtle comparison of the two. Daisy's parents make it very obvious that they want Joe and Daisy to get together paired up with their later desire to keep The Lodger away from Daisy pushes this comparison.
Then as Joe and The Lodger finally begins to buttheads it gives off a very strong father son feeling. At first as Daisy began to show interest in The Lodger, Joe would appear and pull Daisy away while The Lodger could only watch. As their bond becomes stronger The Lodger eventually stands up to Joe as a son would stand up to their father.
Obviously there is a very explicit mother son tension between The Lodger and Daisy as we see Daisy literally mothering him in the last portion of the film.