“The threat of falling at the start of the film leading to Scottie’s ‘acrophobia’ can be seen as metaphorical for male ‘castration anxiety’. We can see that Scottie is suffering from castation anxiety as he recognises that he has been made effeminate by the fall, asking Midge
“Do you suppose many men wear corsest?”
Scottie does not, however, recognise that he is suffering from castration anxiety and believes that his illness can be cured.
As the film progresses he attempts to counter the downward threat of ‘falling’ specifically through upward motion, seen for example as he stands on top of a chair. This belief that upward motion will counter the downward ‘falling’ and create equilibrium becomes the flawed and we could say ‘phallic’ logic of the entire film”
