Marnie (1964) and Childhood Trauma

So my makeup muse for the month is Ms. Tippi Hedren. If you don’t know who that is look up the film, The Birds (1963) and you’ll remember who I’m talking about. Tippi Hedren made two notable films under Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds and Marnie. Today I will be discussing the film, Marnie (1964); which by the way both films are on Netflix currently. Take a seat, because this is one wild story.

Marnie, played by Tippi Hedren, is a kleptomaniac, who has taken on various identities to pay her bills (Hitchcock,1964). She steals thousands of dollars from each of her employers before taking on a new identity. Mark Rutland, played by Sean Connery, hears about the girl who has stolen from various employers. Turns out that Marnie sends money to her ill mother with her stolen profits. She also appears to be a woman who does not appear interested in traditional values and does not like men in general.

When Marnie visits her mother, we get a glimpse into her trauma. She hates the color red and freezes when she views it. She also does not like being touched physically. A week later, she applies for a job at Rutland’s as a secretary under the alias of Mary Taylor. During a weekend shift, a thunderstorm occurs and triggers Marnie into a state of fear in front of Mark. According to Psychiatry.org (2023), these are all symptoms of trauma. Mark attempts to comfort Marnie and a relationship begins.

Mark and Marnie spend a lot of time together, but Mark does not appear to know Marnie’s true identity. Before Marnie falls deeply in love with Mark, she once again steals from Rutland Company. When confronted, Marnie lies about multiple things, but is blackmailed into marrying Mark. Mark knows that Marnie has some kind of trauma, which is why he wants to help her instead of sending her to jail.

Later on in the film, it appears Marnie’s mother was a prostitute when she was younger. One of the clients attempted to comfort Marnie during a thunderstorm and Marnie’s mother mistook the comfort as molestation. Marnie attacked the client and accidentally killed the man, which is why she does not like the color red. After the trauma is relived, Mark states that Marnie needs to have a little compassion for herself (Hitchcock, 1964). Marnie begins to realize that she has childhood trauma due to the love she didn’t receive from her mother.

As a person who has dealt with post traumatic stress disorder, this movie hit home. Childhood trauma can travel into adulthood, if not treated properly. The brain is still developing until 25, but trauma changes the brain and behavior. What survivors of childhood trauma must learn is how to give their inner child love and compassion, so that they may feel loved by themselves as an adult. Trauma affects everything, it makes people sensitive, sad, angry, frustrated, disappointed, etc. But self-love is a key-component to healing our inner child.

References:

Universal Pictures. (1964). Marnie. United States.

“What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?” Psychiatry.Org — What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd. Accessed 18 May 2023.