Rear Window

“Rear Window” is narrated by its first-person protagonist, Hal Jeffries. As the story is told from Jeff’s point of view, the reader has access only to his thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. In addition to allowing the reader to see what he sees, Jeff often tries to control the reader’s interpretation of those sights. He pushes readers to reach the same judgments and conclusions that he does—even (or especially) when those conclusions are in doubt. The original title of the story, “It Had to Be Murder,” highlights this determined approach. Jeff refuses to make space for the reader’s doubts.

Jeff’s point of view is the key to the story’s mystery. Readers only learn things as Jeff discovers them, and this intimacy invites readers to share his anxieties. The reader is never sure whether Jeff is a reliable narrator, and his reliability is put into question throughout the story. He is not an objective observer; rather, his experiences and observations are filtered through his perceptions and biases. Jeff’s intense curiosity and voyeuristic tendencies give the reader concerns about his trustworthiness. His active imagination often leads him to jump to conclusions about the people he spies on, which adds a layer of complexity to the story’s plot.