AFI Rear Window Essay

Recently after breaking his left leg, photographer J.P. Jeffries was confined to his apartment. Stricken with boredom, he uses an old pair of binoculars to observe neighbors across the garden. Having a grim outlook on marriage and his future with his girlfriend, Lisa Fremont, his sights are particularly set on a married couple, whose husband, Lars Thorwald, is a salesman, and wife is sickly in bed. Jeff gets a certain amount of amusement from “spying” on these people. But soon, it’s no longer a game. Jeff notices some odd behavior in the married couple’s apartment, and shortly after the wife disappears entirely. Jeff must decide weather he thinks that the peculiar husband is a killer, of if his mind is playing games with him, and must find the strength to solve a case where no one believes the is a case to be investigated.

Jeff has a provincial look on marriage. His caretaker is convinced Lisa is the girl for him. He refuses to admit it because he’s afraid she might be right. But he couldn’t deny that he loved Lisa-she was the only one who believed him about Thorwald, and even when he wasn’t sure about what was going on, she stood by him. But she too got sucked into Jeff’s investigation and her life was almost lost because of her curiosity, but after coming close to loosing her, Jeff was sure of his feelings for her. Though at the end of the movie they don’t marry, Jeff defiantly has a better outlook on the situation.

Jeff also learns a lot about not doubting himself. He continually tells one of his colleagues about his suspicions regarding the murder of Mrs. Thorwald. He continually tells Jeff that he’s just imagining everything. His caretaker and even Lisa occasionally doubt him. But he never wavers and, though his suspicions lead to another broken leg, he was right about Mr. Thorwald. His standing firm allowed a threatening killer to be caught and that wouldn’t have happened if he’d been indecisive.

In addition to learning about self reliance, he also learned a lot depending on others. Since he had broken his leg and was left in a wheelchair, he was somewhat helpless. His caregiver was there to make sure that he didn’t do anything unwise, to make him breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and other everyday things that he was used to doing by himself. At the end, when Thorwald discovers that it was Jeff who turned him in, he went to Jess’s apartment to kill Jeff. His only defense mechanism was a camera flash, but that only lasted him so long before Thorwald pushed him out of a window. He relied on the police to catch him. He learned that he couldn’t be alone forever if he wanted to live long and happy.

Over the course of the film, Jeff learned a lot about himself and others and how to deal with others. He realized that speaking up and taking a stand was important, but relying on others was also a big deal. Over all, Jeff learned a thing of two about life and how to live it.

Summer Experience Essay

My world is spinning and I see nothing but a blur of hazing lights and jeering faces. My fear of heights obstructs all clarity from view. I feel as though I have no way out-like I’m screaming in this crowded place and no one cares enough to look up. I show the ticket master my wrist and he opens the gate for me. He can smell my fear. I warily advance to the suspended seat. Once I’m sitting, he locks me in. He sneers at me. “Good luck.”
I feel the world fall out from beneath me. I think I’m moving, but I’m not sure because my eyes are shut tight. I feel a gentle breeze kiss my nose and I begin to wonder if everything is all right. But when I open my eyes, I’m not sure what to think. I’m a thousand feet up and I’m all alone. I can see the entire fair and even though I’m terrified, I’m amazed. Somehow, I can’t shut my eyes. I could see all of the lights and people that before I was so afraid of. I don’t understand it, but some how looking upon the whole site rather than from just one point brought clarity to it. The music, the sights, the people-somehow they all came together now ant I wasn’t so scared. I didn’t feel so high up any more. I now feel as if I’m flying. I feel like I’m independent and nothing can bring me down.
The ride comes to an abrupt stop. The ticket master’s eyes have softened. He lets me off. “Thank you,” I said to him. I run up to my family.
My mother laughs. “Emily, you’re beaming,” she said, her British accent thick. Good, I think, I should be. I took an important risk and for the first time I didn’t let my fear of heights stop me from flying.

Beautiful Lilly

“Jasper! Jasper!” I came as the young girl called out to me. Her name was Lilly. She was nine years old, though she looked and acted as if she were five.I couldn’t help but smile when she called out for me at night, fearing the monsters from under the bed. She needed me. But then again, I needed her. I needed someone to protect, someone to love.

Her parents had left me to watch her, as they did many nights. Over the months Lilly and I had developed a sort of bond, almost like we were friends. I knew this might be the last time I saw her. I was leaving for London soon, leaving for a place my mom called home. But I couldn’t tell Lilly. She would be crushed.
I felt a tear come to my eye, bet I quickly wiped it away and put a fake smile on my face. I didn’t dare let her see me upset.

“Lilly,” I smiled warmly at her “, are those monsters trying to scare you again?” She shook her head. “Well then, what is wrong, dearest?”

“Jasper, can I ask you a question?”

“Anything.”

“Do you want to be my best friend?” she stared down at her doll, fiddling around with its arms.

“I… that would be wonderful,” I noticed a tear rolling down her face. “Lilly,” I touched her cheek, wishing I could see her happy, one last time. “Lilly, look at me. All you need to do is remember that no matter what, I will always love you.” I looked into her eyes and smiled, though fighting back my own tears.


This is just a prologue, so tll me if you think I should continue.

Power Outage

Yesterday at the volleyball game, Eighth Grade Varsity played one match, then, just as the ref was about to start the second, the lights in the gym dimmed and were dull for a few minutes. I looked at Coach and said "Can we still play if the power's out?" Right when I said it, the whole gym was black. The whole room was filled with screams. 'Oh brother,' I thought, 'It's just dark. Chill out.' We all waited for the power to come back on, but it didn't. After about twenty minutes, Coach told us that the games were over. They called it a tie and the team from Darrington went home. I was so dissapointed because my friend Lincoln went to see me play my last game, and he didn't get a chance to. We took my best friend, Sarah home, and went to take Lincoln home. He went to the front door and it was locked, so he tried to open the garrage, but that didn't work because there was no power to open it, so he came to our house. It was fun, but he spent most of the time talking to my dad about golf and how much better off the world would be if there weren't Democrats and Comunists. They talked about the militay and how Lincoln wanted to follow after his brother and join the Army. I enjoyed seeing my daddy approve of one of my guy friends. Lincoln stayed for dinner and Jason came over for dinner too. Jason, my brother, has been house-sitting for my Uncle Chuck and Aunt Linda for a month. I miss him so much (even though he thinks he's a Spartan[see pic]), but I don't want him to know I don't hate him.

October 18, 2007

We have a volleyball game today. We're playing Darrington. We beat them last time, so I'm sure we'll destroy them! We didn't do so good yesterday though. We played at Kings and they're really good. They are a private school, so I'm sure they recruit their players. JV tied. I won the first game for us by making a serve and getting and ace, but we lost the second one. Varsity lost all three games. I was so mad because Coach Mandy didn't play me on Varsity and I would have done good, and we could have gone out with a little bit of dignity, but I can't stay mad at Mandy for more than like two seconds, so I can't complain. Hailey Blavka was at the game. We were never really friends, but I guess it was cool to talk to her and see her again. Anyways, I'll writ more after we KILL Darrington.

I wonder

I sing among the rightous,

You slave among the damned.

I wonder if I should choose to fall,

So I could hold your hand.

I wonder if your blood tears,

Would turn to ones of joy.

Despite your death-felt pain,

Despite my helpless crys.

Is our love forever lost,

Seeing your darkened past.

I fear that if I choose to fall,

For you I still won't last.

(c)Emily_Beautiful_Cherub

Art: (c)Chantel Jones

Beautiful Willow

Beautiful willow,

With you I shall weep.

Comforting gaze,

Rock me to sleep.

Afraid and alone,

I can’t bear to see.

All of the tears,

That used to be me.

Beautiful willow,

On you I shall lean.

Beautiful dawn,

A comforting scene.

(c)Emily_Beautiful_Cherub

My Phantom

I looked at his face

And saw a monster.

I looked at his body

And saw a man.

I looked into his eyes

And saw sorrow.

I listened to his voice

And heard an angel.

I kissed him

And felt passion.

There were no faults on him

But on me.

I left him there

To die alone.

I left him

All for a man of worldly beauty,

Truly blinded to what beauty really was.

All to be haunted

By his memory.

By my Phantom,

My Angel,

My Love.

Art: Her Phantom (c) Foxfires

Poem: My Phantom (c) Emily_Beautiful_Cherub

Return to Top

Hey!!1!

This is my new blog. I'm using it to post my writing and journals for school, so enjoy!