How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Rear Window.
Quote #7
DOYLE: That's a secret and private world you're looking into out there. People do a lot of things in private that they couldn't explain in public.
Doyle implies that community also means respect for privacy: that a community only works if everyone can live without their neighbors all up in their business. On the other hand, look at poor Thorwald, living a life of quiet desperation, apparently isolated from anyone who might be able to be helpful and sympathetic.
Quote #8
NEIGHBOR WITH DOG: Which one of you did it? Which one of you killed my dog? You don't know the meaning of the word "neighbor." Neighbors like each other, speak to each other, care if anybody lives or dies. But none of you do! You don't talk, you don't help, you … you don't even see. But I couldn't imagine any of you being so low that you'd kill a little helpless, friendly dog! The only thing in this whole neighborhood who liked anybody!
Interesting that a peripheral character cuts to the chase here. In her tragedy and grief, she accuses the whole neighborhood of being utterly indifferent to those around them, of spurning the sense of community that the courtyard is supposed to foster. And while plenty of them look sad and concerned (Miss Torso is practically heartbroken), they listen to her cry and then turn around and go back to their lives. Even Jeff and Lisa see the dog's death only in terms of their investigation, proving that every word the distraught woman says is true.
Quote #9
STELLA: Miss Lonelyhearts! Call the police!
As a counterpoint to the charges leveled against the community, Stella proves that there is a sense of interconnection in this courtyard and that people can take action to help their neighbors. We've felt bad the entire movie for Miss Lonelyhearts, a woman getting older and just trying (and largely failing) to find a little companionship in her life. When she finally decides to end it all, Stella and Jeff are compelled to act.