Horror Classics - Blog Posts

Birds in psycho 1960

I love the usage of birds in alfred hitchcocks psycho so much, although I'm not 100% on the intended meanings I wanted to talk about my own interpretations.

Phoenix:

Phoenixs tend to depict things revolving the theme of life after death. The movie taking place in Phoenix at the beginning feels like it represents the start of Marion's new life; foreshadowing her journey to fairvale in attempt of having a life with Sam, paying off the debts and marrying him.

It could also relate to how Marion will continue to affect the story past her death (eg. Lila and marys actions in psycho 2)

Life after death/resurrection could also attribute to Norman's mother.

Crane:

Cranes are used to represent wealth and fortune, which fits how Marion stole the 40,000.

I also like that although Marion used a fake name while checking into the Bates motel, after having that conversation with Norman she has a change of heart and wants to return to Phoenix and fix her actions. In that same conversation Norman talks about his hobby as a taxidermist, stuffing birds. She then goes on to give him her real name, Crane , like the bird; referencing her upcoming death.

Taxidermy:

Norman's hobby of stuffing birds may be utilized to make him come across as eerie or creepy, but a lot of his wording interests me.

When he tells Marion that she eats like a bird (associating her with birds, I also agree with the theories that the birds represent women) he moves on to mention how he doesn't actually know much about birds. But ironically, refers to them as passive and also associates his mother with them—claims she's no more of a threat than those stuffed birds.. but the birds on display aren't exactly peaceful and unthreatening. The owl by where Norman sat is a predatory animal, a hunter. And the crow across from him represents death. Neither of the birds on display are not dangerous.

(Also noting that the crow is by Marion, foreshadowing her upcoming death maybe) His failure to recognize and understand these birds could reference his state of denial when it comes to how his mother treated him growing up. (And also his strict relationship with her where he was to not be with other girls, almost being like a cage—a bird cage)

Another thing, in stuffing birds (also in making the connection of his mother to them), could be referencing how he tried to preserve her body as best he could for the longest time.

Idk these are just some of my thoughts, maybe I'm reaching or maybe others find these things obvious. Either way I think it's interesting, sorry if my wording was bad 😭