A window is the fragile divide between the familiar and enigmatic—a jagged threshold to both see and be seen, where shadows form and light illuminates hidden truths. It is a source of freedom and escapism, extending the boundaries of perception to entwine stories as the mind wanders. Perception and perspective are the two most influential contributors to one’s outlook, and a window provides the frame for how those are recognized. It may open, it may close. It may be crystalline, it may be hazy…tinted, or even mirrored. It may portray promise, horror, hope, depression, anxiety, darkness or sunlight. No matter the form, a window is a liminal space offering a glimpse into the unknown.
To further examine the role of windows throughout history, Upper School Latin Teacher, Mr. Lowke shares, “I think windows are sometimes described as the eyes of a building. They let people look out or they act as sources of illumination and maybe not just literally, but metaphorically too.” This relates to the historic purpose of windows in which they often worked to portray both clarity and haziness. He references Michael Angelo’s Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and notes, “If you’re looking at the dome, you’ve obviously got this hemispherical space. And then you get this hole looking into a little thing called a lantern on the side…At the time, Michelangelo was really struggling. He was really depressed and originally designed the lantern as a ‘blind lantern’ in which there’d be no windows. He actually wanted to make this blind and dark to symbolize his own feelings.”
In film and literature windows portray striking symbols to reveal the dissonance between one’s inner muse and the exterior truth. More than simply structural additions, they act as metaphors for an opening into the world—the ability to observe life from afar, not forgetting the borders which box us in. Windows frame stories, both physically and emotionally, evoking yearning and endless potential.
In film, windows often represent the threshold between mere observation and physical touch. Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” offers one of the most iconic representations of this. The protagonist, Jeff, is confined to a wheelchair and only experiences the world through the lens of his apartment window. This window becomes both a literal frame of reference and a symbol of Jeff’s obsession with his neighbors’ whereabouts and affairs. The window operates as a barrier between his steady, spectator existence amongst a world of action that he can only view from a distance. The tension between the interactions he observes and his inability to act highlights both the capabilities and limits of perspective.
Similarly, Joe Wright’s “The Woman in the Window” explores restraint through its protagonist, Dr. Anna Fox who suffers from agoraphobia and spends her time peering at her neighbors through a window in her home. This acts as both a form of dreaming and a trap, forcing her into a deeper web of psychosis and peril. Just as Jeff in “Rear Window” grows an increasing desire for insight into the lives of those he watches, the woman’s sight forces her to resist her own unease. The window is not simply a means of viewing the greater world, but rather a border which holds the overseer, bringing them closer to the brink of what they understand and ultimately forcing them to face the reality.
In literature, windows often serve as metaphors for emotional and psychological restrictions. In Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights,” windows represent connection and isolation. When Heathcliff opens a window to let in Catherine’s ghost, it symbolizes the threshold of the living and the dead, of love and vengeance. One can pass through the window, but doing so brings liberation and agony. Other times, characters are obstructed by locked windows to represent emotional obstacles while an open window provides a more vulnerable, menacing interaction.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” alike, windows represent the illusory view of the American Dream. Gatsby’s mansion constructed with large windows overlooking his extravagant parties symbolize the threshold between the wealthy elite and mundane existence of outsiders. The window which provides a clear sight outside keeps Gatsby isolated from the world he desires. Despite his wealth and social reputation, he is incapable of breaking the barriers of the social group he desires and the windows reflect this incompatibility.
Whether it be film or literature, art or photography, a window serves as a threshold between realities—the attainable versus improbable. It offers a glimpse into personal experiences, others’ actions and the countless possibilities which rest beyond our perception. Yet, it also serves as a source of isolation—the boundary between us and the people we dream of becoming, the places we dream of exploring and the things we dream of doing. Through a window, we can see a fragment of the world with clarity, but are constantly reminded of the ways in which we are confined by the fixtures which shape these perspectives.
