Double Indemnity - Amanda Palazzo
The character of Phyllis in “Double Indemnity� is the epitome of the term “femme fatale.� While not as sexually uninhibited as modern audiences might be used to, she certainly flaunts her womanly assets as a means of enticing Walter to do her bidding. She is very independent, in that she came up with the initial plan for her husbands murder on her own and took the first steps (talking to Walter about accident insurance) in completing her mission. Phyllis is also very ambitious; she is eager to be rid of her husband, and flirts with and flatters Walter to encourage him to go along with her plan.
I feel that, generally, femme fatale characterizations of women are negative in that they portray women as sex objects, gold diggers, manipulative, and self-serving. However, I do think the femme fatale is a strong female character - one that knows what she wants and how to get it - which to me, is a nice change from the typical “damsel in distress� characterization of women. So, I guess, if women are to be portrayed, I’d rather see a female character that can take care of herself (in one way, or another), rather than one that is constantly doted upon and treated like a simpleton.
The role the femme fatale, Phyllis, has in Walter’s downfall is that she used her looks and charm to seduce Walter. Once she had him “under her spell,� she exploited his infatuation and manipulates him into killing her husband, making it look like an accident, and defrauding the insurance company he works for. Eventually, he discovers that she was playing him all along, he kills her, but not before she shoots him. He confesses his crimes to his boss and the film (and Walter’s life, as he knew it) end as he awaits the police’s arrival.
My initial instinct was to say that the femme fatale, Phyllis, had a large part in the outcome of the plot because she had Walter wrapped around her finger. She had seduced and manipulated him into plotting her husband’s death, killing him, and defrauding the insurance company. However, while she had him hooked, he was the one who was running the show, making decisions. When she wanted her husband dead right away, Walter made her wait until he would be on the train. Walter decided when and where they should meet, what the course of action would be. He was the one who was calling all the shots, so she had less power in the actual outcome of the plot. Despite this, I do think the woman is in a position of power. Even though she is not directly in control of her own destiny, she has Walter so captivated that he is committing murder and insurance fraud for her – that sounds like a position of power to me!