SSC Film Studies

Masculinity is possessing the qualities or characteristics considered typical of, or appropriate to a man; and this is something that the character Scottie doesn’t portray.

In the scene with Midge, he begins injured already emphasising his weakness. The fact that he’s wearing a corset something that is typically a feminine item of clothing and complaining about his feelings, emotions and restrictions yet again damages his masculinity as he is being feminised, suffering from the castration anxiety. The walking stick in this scene represents a phallic imagine, he literally can’t keep it up is visually damaging his masculinity once again.  Due to the fact that Scottie is out of work and fails to obtain any female partner at his age, allows the spectator to view him as being a very weak and sympathetic character, something that a male character isn’t usually associated with. When Scottie falls and midge saves him his masculinity is yet again challenged; as this is something that is typically the other way round the male character should in fact save the female character; he’s therefore occupying a female role.