How Seven Applies to Narrative Theories.

Jodie Willett

Toderov
Toderovs theory was that every film had an Equilibrium, Disequilibrium and an Equilibrium. This does not fully apply to the film Seven. Seven starts off where everything is normal and good, Mills is happy with his wife and Somerset is ready to retire, this would be the Equilibrium. Then it goes bad, this is when people begin to die, Somerset does not get to retire and has to do the case along with Mills, then at the end there is no Equilibrium. Yes, the killer is caught, but it does not go back to the way that it started Mills wife was murdered, and she was pregnant with their baby. The only happy ending was for the killer, because in the end he wanted to die. This means that there was no end Equilibrium. Toderovs theory, proven to be right in most mainstream films, does not work throughout the film Seven. The first two parts may be right, but the normalness that was there at the beginning didnt come back at the end because of the string of events that had happened nearer to the end of the film.

Levi-Strauss
Strauss theory was that there were always binary opposites in films. In seven, this applies. For example Good vs Evil: Mills and Somorset vs John Doe Wilderness vs City: New York vs Middle of nowhere Police vs Crime: Detective vs Murders Law Enforcement vs Law Breaking: Policemen vs Criminals Weak vs Strong: Victim vs Criminal Follow vs Against: Police vs Criminal Life vs Death: Victims that live vs Victims that die

Propp
Propp looked at 100s of fairy tales and identified different character types: The Villain would be John Doe because he is the one going and killing people for their sins. The Hero would be Mills and Somerset as they are the one looking for the killer and trying to stop him. The Donor is Somerset because he provides Mills with the information on the Seven Deadly Sins in the Library. The Helper is also Somerset because he helps Mills find John Doe. The Princess is Tracy (Mills Wife) because she is the one that nothing should have happened to, also because she was with the Hero. Her Father is Somerset. This is because she goes to him for advice about her child and treats him as if its her father. The Dispatcher is the Police Captain because he sends Mills and Somerset on their way to find the murderer. The False Hero is strangely John Doe. This is because John Doe thinks he is doing well by killing people that have sinned, but he is not. This making him the false hero.