SSC Film Studies

How are Doppelgangers used in Vertigo

Doppelgangers are often used in film and literature, they are often figured as a twin, a mirror image or another copy of a main character. In vertigo, Doppelgangers are used quite a lot to show the psychology of the protagonist Scottie. in vertigo, the doppelgangers are used to represent the struggle of vice and virtue within scottie; this is also known as psychomachia. 

When we first see madeline, she is represented as the virtue in scotties life, as she is angelic and immaculate. He is also doing the right thing, by helping a friend and saving a vulnerable woman's life. Scottie also sees her as a cure for his castration anxiety. As the film progresses we lose madeline, and we then move on to Judy. When Scottie is looking for a replacement for Madeline, any of the scenes when he is following Madeline is repeated, this is to show Scotties obsession with madeline. Judy is shot in a side profile like the first time we see madeline. The music is exactly the same, and she later opens the window the same way that madeline did. this scene is saying that Judy is the exact recreation of Madeline, or a doppelganger. 

When we see Scottie react to Judy, it is rather sinister and unsettling. This is because when we first saw madeline, it was virtuous, he was helping a friend. Doppelgangers represent the return of the repressed, Judy represents the return of the represses as she is physically and visually a copy of madeline, and Scottie knows this; this is reinforced when Scottie first sees Judy, he is chasing his obsession, his personal desire and finally giving in to his base desires or vices. He sees judy as an apparition or double of Madeline, and he sees her at a second chance to cure his vertigo, and castration anxiety.

Near the end of the film, Midge attempts to flirt with Scottie, but is unsuccessful. Midge gets angry because she is unable to please Scottie, and does not please him sexually. As a result, she lashes out and attacks her reflection. Her doppelganger comes in to conflict with the perception that she has created.