Shadows of a doubt

         This film centers upon the protagonist, Charlie Newton, and the antagonist, her uncle Charlie. Although their relationship is uncle and niece, there are multiple parallels between Charlie and Uncle Charlie that suggest a certain twin-like bond they share with each other. At the post office when Charlie is sending a telegram to Uncle Charlie at time 4:35 part 2/11, she asks Mrs. Henderson if she believes in mental telepathy. This was just as she read Uncle Charlie's telegram and was about to send a telegram to him as well. To Charlie, it was almost as if they are psychically linked together, which is a commonly believed aspect of twins. In time 2:42 part 3/11, Charlie and Uncle Charlie are alone together in the kitchen, Charlie even says "we're not just an uncle and a niece" and later says at time 3:11, "we're sort of like twins." I personally thought that this suggested a closeness between the two which is very apparent by their interactions and body language, but I thought that their relationship was a bit more than just an "uncle and a niece" as Charlie put it. I thought that their relationship might be characterized with an incestuous tone, especially in this scene. Uncle Charlie's gift for Charlie was not only a ring, but he put it on her ring finger and was holding and touching her as though a lover would.
        As I kept this twin-like relationship between the two in my mind, I noticed how the title came into play after Detective Jack cast a "shadow of doubt" on Charlie's image of Uncle Charlie at time 6:08 part 6/11 and 8:30 part 6/11. The first scene (6:08) was as Charlie walked around the library and she sees the lights dimming as the library closed at 9. What I thought was significant was that the lights dimmed with each chime of the bell that was ringing to signify the closing hour at 9 as if time was running out. Shadows are created as a contrast when there is light, and are even technically present in the absence of light. I thought that the dimming of the lights seemed to foreshadow a confirmation of Charlie's fears even though she had no proof. The next scene (8:30) shows Charlie slowly walking out after reading the newspaper article and confirming her suspicions. This particular scene is interesting because it seems as though the only light seems to be on Charlie and the newspapers and her surroundings are all mired in shadows. At 8:30, as she walks out, her own shadow is visible and is rather elongated, which suggests a solemn mood, given the high camera angle and positioning of the light that causes the long shadow. I interpreted this scene as the shadow of doubt officially descended upon Charlie and represents the turning point in which Charlie's attitude towards Uncle Charlie changes. Considering that Charlie thinks she and Uncle Charlie are like twins, given the parallels in their names, Uncle Charlie occupying Charlie's room, and the closeness of their relationship, this change in attitude was a result of the revelation in the truth of what the detective told her. I think that this is a doppelganger reference and this motif is the focus of the film. It makes sense because a doppelganger is a person who resembles you in a way but exists to bring misfortune upon your life, and that is exactly what Uncle Charlie does to Charlie, even though Uncle Charlie would only be a doppelganger by character and not appearance.