Blog Post #8, Baby

4. In your mind, are there any heroes in Double Indemnity? If so, who?

There were very few redeeming characters in Double Indemnity, but if any character were to be considered a hero it would be Barton Keyes. Keyes consistently does the right thing, and pursues justice as opposed to personal gain. Barton Keyes is Walter's friend at the insurance firm, responsible for checking through all of the claims for any fraudulent ones. Throughout the film we learn that he is very proficient at his job, and has discovered quite a few cases of people trying to hoodwink the agency due to a "little man" in his gut that lets him know when something is amiss. Besides Keyes following his instincts and doing what he believes is right, he is also a fiercely loyal friend. When Walter is accused of being potentially involved in Mr. Dietrichson's death, Keyes immediately leaps to his defense and praises his character. Keyes also offers Walter a job because they are friends and Keyes respects Walter. It is really in the end of the film that you see some of the most heroic aspects of Barton Keyes. Keyes discovers Walter bleeding from a gunshot wound, having just confessed his role in the murder of Mr. Dietrichson, and is immediately prepared to turn him over to the police. Even after Walter tries to appeal to Keyes's sympathies and asks him to wait a day so that he can escape to Mexico, Keyes doesn't relent about turning in Walter. Keyes does call an ambulance as well to help Walter, showing that even when faced with betrayal by his best friend, he still does the right thing, and not whatever would help him the most. Other than Barton Keyes, I would agree that there are no other heroes in Double Indemnity. Every single character has one major flaw or another, and few redeeming characteristics.