Symbolism-Se7en

Danielle Salm
Visual Literacy
Professor Hammond
April 4, 2010

Artistic Movements Essay
Symbolism-Se7en

The symbolism movement began in 1885 and continued until about 1910. It all started as a reaction against the literal interpretation of objects and subjects. These ideas were more commonly used by poets that told a story or idea by means of expression instead of simply explaining what they mean. It created a movement that involved suggestive pieces and metaphorical scenarios. People soon were learning that there were other ways of sending a message other than through simple words. Emotions or ideas could be expressed through sound. This movement contributed very much so to the abstract arts of the 20th century. It gives a feeling of intelligence because one must look deeper into something to find its true meaning.
In film, symbolism is used to connect aesthetics, cognition, feeling and though. Sometimes the viewers catch on quickly to the symbols and hints, while in other movies it is harder to point out. The symbols are usually mixed in with the theme, characters and a specific conflict. There are many different symbols used to depict what is going on and each one used is pertinent to the story line and slowly unravels the mystery behind what is about to come about.
The movie Se7en is a great example of how symbolism is used in movies. Aside from the actual story line, the plot of the movie was gloomy, dark and scary. It sets the viewer up for what is about to occur. We don’t need to be told that something terrible is going to happen, because you can feel it coming. The trembles of the music, and the dimness of the lights, and even the rain all lead a person to anticipate what the movie is about to tell them.
Detective Somerset is on his last case before retiring. He is paired with young, cocky, short tempered Detective Mills. They go to inspect the crime scene of an obese man who had died at the dinner table from what they thought to be over eating. Upon arriving at the scene, they realized that there was much more going on there then just a man over eating in his own misery. Mills finds behind the refrigerator, the first sign to this mystery of chain murders that is about to occur. Gluttony is scratched into the wall, and so the answers start to unfold. Shortly after, the next victim is killed. This man was a defense attorney and with his blood the killer spelt greed on the floor. The detectives at this point figure out that the killers crimes are based on the seven deadly sins. Next they found a drug dealer tied to his bed for what they determined to be a year. He had been tortured, and when found they presumed him to be dead, which they soon found out, he was not but very close to it. The prostitute was the next to die. A man was strapped with a knife by the killer with gun in mouth and told to have sex with her, which would lead the blade to stab her stomach and inevitably kill her. Lust was written on that door. Pride was for a model that was then given a choice by the killer, he cut off her nose and told her to call for help and live with the handicap or to take the bottle of sleeping pills and slowly fall into a never ending sleep. She simply couldn’t handle not being “beautiful”, so chose death. During the last two murders they find out the residence of the killer and go to make an arrest. He spotted them and shot then spared Detective Mills life when holding him at gunpoint. Soon after the killer turned himself in to let the remaining killings play their course. He then goes to take the detectives to the scene of the last two murders. When they arrived a package conveniently is dropped off at 7:01. As Somerset opens the package, Mills holds the killer (Doe) at gunpoint. Mill’s wife has been killed by Doe because she wouldn’t be with him; he placed her head in the box. The kill signified envy, for Doe wanted Mills wife. Since he could not obtain her he killed her so the final murder could take place. Mills was faced with the choice to kill the person responsible for all the deaths including the one of his wife to finish the chain of murders and end with wrath, or to let him serve the consequences and not let his goal be complete. Mills took the life of the killer and the seven deadly sins played their course.
The killings we used to show the evil in everyone. It was a message that the world is filled with horror and sin, and Doe wanted to make a statement of that so no one would ever forget it. He used the killings to finally get people to notice what has been in front of them but they never truly saw. People will not see what they choose not to but through the symbolism of his killings, the message cannot be so easily ignored. Simply stating an opinion or idea doesn’t always get through to people, but through action, and mystery, people try to unravel the truth. Doe was no scary character. He planned his murders meticulously to expose the evil in ourselves and to demonstrate his disgust in it.