Mise-en-Scene in Psycho

Mise-en-Scene is a French term for all of the visual elements in that specific frame. It is used to infer meaning. This is famously used in the parlour scene where Marion and Norman are talking over sandwiches. In the background there are a load of taxidermy birds hanging from the walls. The birds that are used are birds of prey which represent what has happened to Mrs. Bates, her dead body was preserved similarly to the stuffed birds. Also, the word 'bird' is a slang term to women.

The woman character in the film is named "Marion Crane" like the bird. In the scene where the car goes in the lake, you see the number plate on the car reads "NFB" which are Norman's initials, standing for Norman F. Bates. In the films it states that his middle name is 'Francis' as in St. Francis who is the patron saint of birds.