Psycho NOTES

PSYCHO - 4.11.13
- the owl is watching while norman talks bad of his mother.
- the birds foreshadow how norman takes care of his mother
- "shes as harmless as one of those stuffed birds."

Psycho Screening

Psycho Screening

In Hitchcock's Psycho the stuffed birds in the parlor behind the main office at the Bates Motel may serve as a type foreshadowing. When Marion first arrives at the Motel Norman questions her lightly and friendly. Once he takes decided interest in her by inviting her to dinner he begins to delve deeper into her situation which provides an opportunity for self disclosure. It seems it wasn't until after Marion let on about over hearing Normans conversation with his mother that Norman actively pursues her. Norman then leads Marion into the parlor for dinner. The taxidermied birds in the parlor may reflect the psychosis of Norman's mind in which his mother is ever watching over him. As an example, a shot of the stuffed owl is shown watching over Norman as he speaks ill of his mother. This idea is further explored when Norman becomes the ever watching presence by peeping through a hole in the wall to spy on Marion before she gets in the shower. Norman also makes interesting comments about the birds that reflect his true relation ship with his mother. For instance, Norman states that while his mother may be strict she's "as harmless as one of the birds." Interestingly, a picture of a bird is hung just outside the bathroom where Marion is murdered.

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