MovieChat Forums > Gaslight (1944) Discussion > One question about Elizabeth

One question about Elizabeth

posted 16 years ago by mkmkmkmkmkmkmk
5 replies | jump to latest

When she told Gregory there was no man (Joseph Cotten) in the house, was she helping Paula or helping Gregory manipulating her? It was very unclear to me.

[–] kag-4 16 years ago

She was helping Paula.

Remember that Brian told her not to tell Gregory that he had been there. Also, she was worried for her own job.

She seemed pretty disgusted at Gregory when she walked out of the room. "Yes, I can see *everything* clearly."

Neither maid was in on Gregory's scheme. Elizabeth couldn't hear the steps in the attic because she was going deaf. Nancy was young and gullible.

But Elizabeth was helping Paula.

Kat

Demons I get. People are crazy

[–] Echo_in_big_sky 13 years ago

I wondered about that too, since Cotton's character told Elizabeth not to do anything unless it helped Paula. So immediately thereafter when Elizabeth denied that a man had been there, it threw me. I didn't understand that exchange either.

But clearly, by the time she said she saw things clearly, you knew Elizabeth was on Paula's side.

Always the officiant, never the bride. http://www.withthiskissitheewed.com

[–] lillurr 13 years ago

She didn't know about him raking around the attic but she makes comments previosuly in the film about the husband saying the wife is ill even though she doesn't look ill implying that everything isn't right. She doesn't make it her bussiness to find out but you understand that she takes sides with the wife.

"We fell in love. I fell in love - she just stood there." / http://twitter.com/Marielind

[–] CromeRose 13 years ago

I wondered about this too at first - especially as it seemed that Elizabeth's saying no man came to the house tormented Paula even more. But after thinking about it I decided she was helping Paula. Mr. Cameron had told Elizabeth not to say that he'd been there, and when she adamantly stated to Gregory that no man had been there she was setting him up to see just how he tormented and manipulated poor Paula. He's raving to Paula like: "You see? You see how foolish your imaginings and dreams are!" and Elizabeth knows darn well that a man was there and has now exposed Gregory's ploy and she states this by telling him "Yes. I see exactly how things are." He's busted. It was a bit off-putting and misleading at first, but it works well in the end.

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[–] kelani 11 years ago

My take on it,

1. Telling Gregory a man was there would add all those wonderful products of jealousy to his blend of psycho-torture; wrath, physical violence, God -knows-what-else. By lying, she's misdirecting Gregory in the least harmful way for Paula.

2. If she tells the truth, she's fired...or worse. Whether she wants to avoid this for economic reasons, or to further protect Paula, your guess is as good as mine.

Kel
http://imdb.com/name/nm1485711/
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