To What Extent does the World Shape Us?


We as people are so heavily influenced by the world around us. Where one lives, goes to school, who their parents are, and economic status all shape what values are instilled in a person. A person is molded by his or her surroundings from the time that they are born. In this way, much of the time a person is fated to become what their society or immediate surroundings dictate. For example, I have been growing up in an affluent community where education is extremely important and it is expected that I receive good grades and attend college. In other places around the world this is not the case. It really depends on what the community a person lives in. Values, customs, traditions, and expectations vary tremendously throughout the world. Living in such a homogenous community I tend to forgot that many people around the world do not have the same aspirations that we do on the Northshore. The overwhelming sense of materialism and consumerism that permeates where we live dictates our perceptions of other people, what we aspire to, and who we feel is beneath us. However, as much as our community shapes us its also just our innate personality that shapes the way we live. I believe that it is a combination of both nature and nurture that define us as people.

The Seductress

This still shot comes at the beginning of the film when Mrs. Dietrichson and Walter Neff meet for the very first time. It is a high angle shot looking up at Phyllis from the foyer. The Dietrichson's home appears lavishly decorated with an intricate wrought iron banister in the center and a classical painting in the background. Under the painting lies a wooden commode where a beautiful porcelain figurine stands. Ornate sconces adorn the walls. Phyllis, however, appears only in a skimpy beach towel with sunglasses in her hands suggesting a life of leisure and foreshadowing her role as a seductress. Bathed in sunlight, the director has given her an almost angelic appearance, which is in sharp contrast to her deceptive nature. The decorations and furnishings in the house reflect the Dietrichson's wealth and extravagant tastes. Phyllis' materialism and superficiality are on display here. We later learn, that despite all this apparent wealth, her greed knows no bounds and she is willing to go so far as to kill her husband for more.