Rear Window Character Analysis: Jeff

In Rear Window James Stewart plays a photographer for Life Magazine, used to an exciting life of traveling the world to document wars and other catastrophes. He's not traveling as the movie begins though, he's immobilized in his New York City apartment with a broken leg. To keep himself from going stir crazy, he watches his neighbors across the courtyard, getting closer to them with binoculars and a telephoto lens. When visiting nurse Thelma Ritter …

…lives, he obtains certain nervousness when around Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly), a society girl. He makes sarcastic remarks when Lisa begins to talk about getting married to Jeff. Jeff believes that his adventurous life-style won’t be sufficient enough for Lisa’s high class personality. In conclusion, “Jeff” Jeffries is a middle-class man who loves to involve himself in other people’s lives. Jeff’s feeling of inferiority towards Ms. Fremont slightly complicated their relationship.