Alex is standing on the other side of the room hiding behind a curtain watching their interaction. The cut then shows the conversation from Alex’s point of view, watching his wife talk to another man from across the room. Alex had previously referred to himself as juvenile when it comes to jealousy, but this shot gives us a feeling of witnessing that emotion. Hitchcock is truly a master at putting us in other’s shoes, even when they are supposed to be the villain of the film. Alex remains something of a sympathetic character despite his …show more content…
It open with a statue of a seemingly Roman goddess watching down and Alex and Alicia drink tea and the mother knits. It is difficult to identify the goddess, but the general watchfulness and the gaze directly at the table is significant as many of the goddesses serve as maternal figures in Roman lore. It is as if this being is witnessing the poisoning happening in the home. In this scene costuming is also significant as Alicia is the only character wearing white as well as the white flowers and white tea cup. She is unaware of the reality of the situation where the audience knows the tea has been poisoned. The mother sits intent on her knitting as they discuss the activities of the