Blog Post #8

In your mind, are there any heroes in Double Indemnity? If so, who? 

In my opinion there are no Heroes in Double Indemnity. In the film the closest character to being a hero is Walter Neff. He is the brains of the operation and was the one who thought of the whole conniving plan. At times he possesses hero- like qualities but he also has many flaws about him including his motifs. 

With Walter Neff, his biggest flaw is his motif. The motif for Walter Neff's actions is love or even lust. In my opinion, in order for someone to be considered a hero they should do the right thing for the right reasons. Now this is a very vague definition because I think not all heroes wear capes. There are heroes in day to day lives including military soldiers, fireman, and english teachers. The one thing that all these people have in common is that they are helping others, they are looked up to. Walter does not have these qualities, I believe the Motif for Walter's actions are not good enough to classify him as a hero. He is not saving Phyllis, he is helping her kill her husband. The reason he may have been considered a hero in the slightest is that it could be argued that his motif is love. Love is a very powerful motif but it is not justification for murder. Also, after the crime is committed there is doubt that the same feelings they had before were still there, which makes love a very shaky platform. 

This film is a film noir so it emphasizes cynical attitudes and sexual motivations, both of which are present in Double Indemnity. We first see a relationship form between Walter and Mrs. Dietrichson when Walter comes over to sell insurance when Mr. Dietrichson is out of town. The encounter between the two characters is flirty and suggests a romantic relationship between the two. The film goes on and the two see each other until they form the plan to kill Mr. Dietrichson. This is when we notice the downfall of Walter. He reaches a point when he is easily persuaded by Mrs. Dietrichson just as Macbeth is controlled by Lady Macbeth. Walter is persuaded to the point of killing another human, sound familiar? Because Walter is so flawed by love it is not possible for him to be considered a hero. Sorry Walter.