The philosopher Jacques Lacan posited a theory in his understanding of psychoanalysis, called Mirror Theory, which discussed the idea of children seeing their own reflection, and gaining an mistaken understanding of their own self in it. The theory basically stated that when the child observes itself in the mirror, it sees itself in the reflection and recognizes the form; however, it sees the form in an idealized manner, as it recognizes the image and what it is capable of, mainly motor dependence, while simultaneously realizing its own lack of coordination. According to Lacan, this recognition then forms the ego of the child, which will pervade even into adulthood.

In Lauren Mulvey’s essay on Mirror Theory in cinema, she discusses the format Hitchcock’s work take, which evidences mirror theory. Mulvey believes that cinema acts as a form of mirror theory in that the audience recognizes the form, or gestalt on stage; however, we see it as an idealized form, which then leads to certain structures within our own egos. Mulvey discusses how in a number of Hitchcock’s films, the male character has the ability to control the stage. In addition, this character holds a position similar to the audience, in that they watch just as the audience does. Mulvey states that the male is able to subject the female of the work to his will sadistically or voyeuristically. This trend can be noted in “Psycho”, as the male character submits the female who is killed to his will. While he comes across as a shy man, he is still the one who convinces her to have dinner with him, or come into the parlor. In addition, under the split personality of Mrs. Bates, he is the one who dominates the main female character and eventually murders her.

In this way, one can note both the Gothic element and the idea of Mirror Theory in the work. Both the Gothic and Mirror Theory rely on the idea of recognizing something similar to us in order to cause understanding, or in the case of the Gothic, revulsion. Hitchcock’s work gives a twisted version of the idealized form, in which the male has control over the females in his life. We as an audience can recognize this identifiable figure; however, the sadistic actions the male goes to in his control over women, as well as his psychosis, demonstrate the idea of evil existing in many forms, including those that are most similar to us.

Works Cited:

Screen 16.3 (Autumn 1975): 6-18. Print.