NARRATIVE STRUCTURES

WITHIN ‘IN MY EYES’

SYD FIELDS’S PARADIGM Our first major plot event happens

within the second third of the first section of our film with the switch of Rachel to Alison.

Also, the climax of the film happens at the end of the second third, with the tea spilling and the confusion surrounding this.

The resolution occurs with when Alison reassures Doug and later says goodbye to him.

BINARY OPPOSITES Alison and Rachel are binary opposites

in age as Rachel is the youngest character and represents how life develops. However, Alison represents the history and experience that Doug clings to desperately as it brings him comfort. This opposition shows how Doug’s family is moving on yet Doug fails to recognise this as he is overcome by grief and uses his hallucinations of Alison as a coping mechanism.

BINARY OPPOSITES Doug’s age also contrasts with Rachel and

changes the dynamic of their relationship. As Doug is Rachel’s father he should be still looking after her or giving her independence. However, due to his illness, she has to look after him. Whilst the audience accepts that this is a norm for most aging families, it is still a hard fact to face.

These contrasts of age and health between Rachel and her parents highlights the need for the young to take care of the elders in difficult times, after the elders have looked after them for so long.

TODOROV’S Equilibrium Doug is watching television, Rachel

arriving and greeting him. Disequilibrium For the audience – the switch between

Rachel to Alison. For the characters – the tea spilling and

Doug’s confusion. Resolution When Rachel/ Alison leaves and Doug

accepts this.

BARTHES’ HERMENEUTIC CODE It is not fully explained if Doug does

actually see his daughter at the end of the film. It is polysemic as the audience may chose to believe that as Rachel is the last female character in shot that he does actually see her. But my using “love”, it could refer to his wife or his daughter.

We have built up layers of questions as the switching in most scenes. This snares makes the audience confused, mirroring the confusion that surrounds Doug, due to his illness.