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How Seven Applies To

Narrative TheoriesBY MICHAELA MCCOLE

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Toderovs theory

Toderovs theory was that he thought every film had an Equilibrium, Disequilibrium then

a new Equilibrium. However the film seven subverts this theory. The film starts off with

everything normal, a state of equilibrium. Mills is happily married with his wife and

Somerset is ready to retire from his job. Then it goes to a disequilibrium when people

start to die, and Somerset decides not to retire. He decides to take on the case with Mill

At the end of the film there is no state of new equilibrium, even though the killer is

caught we find out that Mills wife was murdered, and she was also pregnant, Mills only

found this out when he got told by the man who killed her. This at the end makes the

killer want to die so he doesnt have to face prison, which is what he gets; Mills shoots

him and he dies. Therefore this means that at the end there is no new equilibrium.

Toderovs theory seems to be proven in most in most mainstream films, it just doesnt

apply in the film seven.

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Propps theory Propp looked at many films and decided they have some sort of structuralism in them, they have different character

types and these are the character types in seven:

The Herowould be both Mills and Somerset as they are the people who are trying to look for the killer and kill him

The Villainwould be John Doe as he is the one who kills people for their sins.

The Donorwould be Somerset as he provides Mills with the information about the seven deadly sins in the library.

The Helperwould be Somerset because he helps Mills to find the villain (John Doe)

The Princesswould be Mills wife (Tracy) because she was with the Hero, and nothing should have happened to her

she wasnt involved in it that much.

Her Fatherwould be Somerset as she goes to him to talk about her child and asks for advice, treating him like a

fatherly figure.

The Dispatcherwould be the Police Captain as he sends Mills and Somerset out on their way to try and find the

murderer.

The false herowould be John Doe, this is because he thinks hes doing a good job by killing people to get their sins,

but in fact he is not doing well.