MovieChat Forums > Niagara Discussion > Was Rose a sociopath?

Was Rose a sociopath?

posted 15 years ago by Child_OfThe_Moon
15 replies | jump to latest

It's hard to tell how the writers were trying to portray Rose. At times she seems to get a thrill out of plotting her husband's murder, and even manipulates the Cutlers who have nothing to do with her marriage at all. She also uses her lover to kill for her and shows very little regard for his wellbeing in doing so. But then there's the scene where she goes into her cabin alone with a sense of despair and guilt. She is clearly horrified when she sees her lover's corpse, but this may have more to do with the fact that she realises George is alive and is out to kill her. What is your opinion?

[–] Belletrist0 15 years ago

I did not really see Rose as being a sociopath (although if she was one, then the writers made it rather subtle instead of making the character a full-out evil witch). The thrill of plotting to kill George may actually have been not due to his death, but the knowledge that she would have full freedom afterward. Also, we do not know exactly what the circumstances of the plot are. She may have manipulated Patrick into killing George, or he may have suggested it and she went along because she thought that Patrick could make her life all better.

It is a rather complex situation, since Rose is clearly in love with Patrick (they even have a special song that is "theirs"). George has no trouble revealing to strangers what a nut case he is, even without Rose's manipulation. Even though Rose wanted to get rid of George for her sake, it appeared to be more for her emotional and mental being, rather than lust for Patrick or boredom from her marriage, which is something a sociopath would typically do. I got the impression that Rose was just tired of dealing with George and his jealous outbursts, his accusations of infidelity (which later became true), his suspicions about where Rose went, what she did, why she was wearing certain clothing, etc. If this had been going on for a long time, it is understandable why she was driven into the arms of another man, who could offer her something better.

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[–] heyuactor 15 years ago

"Subtle" sociopath, no question. It's one of the elements that make this film so powerful (the setting is another).

"I can understand it, but I don't like it none!"--Cheyenne.

[–] Jason_Radley 12 years ago

I think you highlight the danger of applying checklists of supposedly psychopathic traits to fictional characters.

[–] hobnob53 12 years ago

Anyone (fictional or otherwise) who coldly plots the murder of another is sociopathic. The fact that Rose did so when there was no need to kill George (as has been asked around here, hadn't she ever heard of divorce?) marks her as an even more unstable, dangerous individual.

[–] Leaping_Beaver 12 years ago

Anyone (fictional or otherwise) who coldly plots the murder of another is sociopathic.

I daresay 4.5 billion are coldly plotting their spouse's murder. Or their Mother's/accountant's,/business partner's etc. Coldly plotting a murder isn't a crime. Only the follow-through is. For some plotting to knock off their (insert relationship) is therapeutic.

[–] hobnob53 12 years ago

I don't know how many people coldly plot someone else's murder -- as opposed to idly wishing someone was dead -- but, fine, okay: coldly plots and follows through with. Even under that definition, Rose qualifies as sociopathic. Besides, it's her overall behavior that marks her as a sociopath, not solely the murder aspect.

[–] BelleDameSansMerci 11 years ago

Coldly plotting a murder isn't a crime. Only the follow-through is.

The question was, whether it is "sociopathic", not whether it was a crime.
OF COURSE plotting someone's murder, especially in such circumstances where she could have left him - fled him - is aberrant behavior that shows a deranged mind.
Sociopathic? Not necessarily.
Psychopathic? Definitely.

BTW, Leaping Beaver, you must have some interesting acquaintances, judging by your view of humankind.

[–] Leaping_Beaver 10 years ago

l faux francaise à part - voici ma réponse. (re: userid)

BTW, Leaping Beaver, you must have some interesting acquaintances, judging by your view of humankind.

M'lady, I am simply a fan of movies, as you are. Many of my friends murder, destroy and otherwise extinguish life, human and otherwise for hours everyday and they are perfectly normal. Ok, a little nerdy, since it's online gaming. IRL, as we say, they've never farmed a fly.

As for my view of humankind: remember Leeloo when she gets to "war" in her studies? Humankind is nothing to shout out about.

[–] tjordan-2 12 years ago

Just finished watching TCM's recent broadcast on DVR.

Sociopath? Or just lowlife whore?

Can't Say!

[–] Bree_33 11 years ago

Or the typical film noir villainess?

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[–] snsurone 11 years ago

If anyone was a sociopath, it was Loomis! (Spoiler)

In the scene where he saves Polly from a fall, he tells her that he killed Patrick in self-defense, and then just wanted to disappear and never see Rose again.
Yet, he went to the trouble of having the Carillon Bells play "their" song, knowing how it would frighten Rose.
And then he chased her up to the top floor of the tower, and strangled her.
I have to admit, I really felt bad for Rose, then.

Of course, this scene had to be added in order to comply with the Hayes Office's idiotic "sinner must pay" rule.
And since Loomis also sinned, he had to forfeit his life, too.

[–] uber_geek 10 years ago

Some spoilage.

No, she was just a wicked, scheming woman who was bored with her marriage and had taken a new lover. Had he been successful in killing her husband and they'd been caught, you can bet she would have sung like a canary that this horrible man had been stalking her and killed her poor husband. She would have eventually gotten bored with her young lover and would have moved to the next one. I got the feeling that if someone abused her, she would have stayed with that one. She was so contemptuous of her husband and viewed him as weak. She probably wouldn't care if he had slapped her around--more evidence to use on how badly she was treated. She certainly baited the husband enough.

I don't think she fainted because she knew George was still alive, but that her boyfriend was dead. I think it was only later when she heard the bells again, that she knew who had put in the request. But I think it was a bit of a blooper--he knew she liked that song, but how did he know the bells were the signal?

[–] DavidStHubbinsUSA 10 years ago

Women like her become the way they are for different reasons but it usually is taken to the extreme by prior life events. The base for this is usually a malady that is a moderate mental disorder such as a Borderline Personality Disorder that may have stayed just below the surface, causing minor life difficulties. However, (and a lot of times due to this being passed by heredity) family abuse or other emotional trauma often brings this to the surface and results in a person that is extremely self centered and unable to feel the pain of others. Life is about getting what they want and leaving destruction behind and even when pointed out to them they are unable or unwilling to take responsibility for their actions. A true Sociopath is a much more serious mental disorder than just the actually quite common type of person we are talking about here. Though most don't go to the extreme of murder if only due to being afraid of getting caught.

Speaking to guy's here..... Hopefully you don't ever let a woman like this under your skin! They can destroy your life! I got two in a row... Not a rare person to find..... Go to a bar and find the girl having the most fun...

[–] liscarkat (16522) 5 years ago

Commenting of DavidStHubbinsUSA's post of five years ago, "Speaking to guy's here..... Hopefully you don't ever let a woman like this under your skin! They can destroy your life! I got two in a row... Not a rare person to find..... Go to a bar and find the girl having the most fun...."

I've been married for nearly four decades to a normal woman, but I feel as if all of my previous girlfriends may have been sociopaths. That may be unlikely, but there's a definite probability at least one or more were. In my early, inexperienced years, I seem to have been attracted to the wrong type of girl for some reason.

[–] liscarkat (16522) 5 years ago

I think she was more of a psychopath. She didn't just manipulate and amuse herself with people without regard for their feelings, she plotted to murder her husband, yet still seemed to be having a good time, even having vigorous sex with him on their last night together. She seemed to feel nothing, other than some apprehension about being caught.