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Seven: Characters

In the film Se7en, Detective William Somerset partners with David Mills to investigate a serial killer targeting victims based on the seven deadly sins. Somerset, a jaded veteran, contrasts with the impulsive Mills, who is eager to make a difference in the crime-ridden city. The story takes a tragic turn when Mills' pregnant wife, Tracy, becomes a victim, leading to a devastating confrontation with the killer, John Doe.

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S.M.ABDULLAH SHAH
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24 views7 pages

Seven: Characters

In the film Se7en, Detective William Somerset partners with David Mills to investigate a serial killer targeting victims based on the seven deadly sins. Somerset, a jaded veteran, contrasts with the impulsive Mills, who is eager to make a difference in the crime-ridden city. The story takes a tragic turn when Mills' pregnant wife, Tracy, becomes a victim, leading to a devastating confrontation with the killer, John Doe.

Uploaded by

S.M.ABDULLAH SHAH
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Seven

Summary
The re ring police detec ve William Somerset tackles a final case with the help
of newly transferred David Mills. They soon realize they are dealing with a
serial killer (Kevin Spacey) who is targe ng people he thinks represent one of
the seven deadly sins. Somerset also befriends Mills' wife, Tracy (Gwyneth
Paltrow), who is pregnant and afraid to raise her child in the crime-riddled city.
Characters
If you’re asking about characters from the film Se7en (1995), here are some of
the main ones:
1. Detec ve William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman)
2. Detec ve David Mills (played by Brad Pi )
3. John Doe (the killer, played by Kevin Spacey)
4. Tracy Mills (David’s wife, played by Gwyneth Paltrow)
5. Police Captain (played by R. Lee Ermey)
6. Dr. Beardsley (the medical examiner, played by George Christy)
7. Mark Swarr (John Doe’s a orney, played by Richard Schiff)
Character Sketch of first four characters
1. Tracy Mills (David’s wife, played by Gwyneth Paltrow)

Tracy is a former schoolteacher who has moved to the city with her husband,
Detec ve David Mills. She's a happy homemaker: a good cook who loves her
husband, her high-school sweetheart.
The problem is that Tracy hates living in the city. It's gross and full of crime, and
their apartment shakes whenever a train goes by. She doesn't want to raise her
child there.
She asks Somerset for advice, and he tells her: "If you don't keep the baby, I
mean, if that's your decision, don't ever tell him that you were pregnant. But if
you choose to have this baby, you spoil that kid every chance you get."
We don't get to find out what she decides because John Doe kills her, cuts off
her head, and puts it in a box. It's like Pandora's Box … except the complete
opposite. There is no hope in this box, just despair. When Somerset opens the
box, he says, "John Doe has the upper hand." More like upper head—hey-oh.
What he means is that he knows Doe has taken away the person Mills most
cares about. When Mills finds out, he flies into a rage and kills John Doe, but
nothing can bring back his wife.
Archetype
Personality: Compassionate, sensi ve, and introverted.
Behavioral Link: Tracy is emo onally sensi ve and caring, especially toward her
husband, David. Her quiet and though ul nature contrasts with his
impulsiveness. Tracy is deeply affected by the darkness surrounding the case,
highligh ng her vulnerability and empathy. Her tragic death reflects how
innocence can be harmed by the evil in the world.
5 factor model
Openness: High. John Doe is highly crea ve (albeit in a disturbing way) in
execu ng his crimes and construc ng his moral philosophy.
• Conscien ousness: Very High. His murders are me culously
planned and executed with extreme precision.
• Extraversion: Low. He avoids social interac ons and works
in isola on, revealing himself only to deliver his message.
• Agreeableness: Very Low. John Doe lacks empathy and
shows no concern for others, believing his ac ons are jus fied.
• Neuro cism: Low. He remains eerily calm, controlled, and
unwavering in his beliefs, even in the face of death.
2. Detec ve David Mills (played by Brad Pi )

Detec ve David Mills is partnered with Detec ve William Sommerset in the


film Se7en. The character is played by Brad Pi . At the start of the film, he has
just transferred to the city police department a er many years of working
"upstate", a presumably more suburban or rural area. Though he is an
experienced and capable police officer, he does not have the level of
professional maturity that Sommerset has.
Detec ve David Mills is the new guy in town. He's a bright-eyed idealist
who wanted to be transferred into the gri y city with hopes of changing it. "I
thought I could do some good," he says when his new partner, Detec ve
Somerset, asks him why anyone would want to move to this god-awful city.
But, a er five years in homicide upstate (whatever state we're in), he wants a
change.
Mills is a guy's guy who likes beer and serves wine in a tumbler instead of a
wine glass. He likes to come home a er a long day of trying to find a serial killer
and spend me with his wife, Tracy, and play with his dogs. He has a good head
on his shoulders, although he's definitely more street smart than book smart.
He's never heard of Paradise Lost or Of Human Bondage. And no, Mills, the
Marquis de Sade did not sing "Smooth Operator."
But, then again, the dude is a cop. He knows what he needs to know to be
good at his job … and had no idea that a well-rounded knowledge of literature
would ever come into play. He knows the law. He knows right from wrong.
Mills' heart is in the right place.
What sets Mills apart from the rest of the cops on the force is the fact that he
actually cares. Somerset used to care, but he's given up. And, when Somerset
mopes about how apathe c everyone is, Mills vehemently disagrees with him
in one of his most compelling monologues.
Archetype
Personality: Impulsive, passionate, and emo onal.
Behavioral Link: Mills displays traits of emo onal reac vity and impulsiveness.
His quick decisions and emo onal responses reveal a more extroverted, less
controlled personality
5 factor model
• Openness: Low to Moderate. Mills is straigh orward and
ac on-oriented, showing li le pa ence for abstract discussions or deep
reflec on.
• Conscien ousness: Moderate. He is determined and
hardworking, but his impulsivity some mes undermines his focus.
• Extraversion: High. Mills is outspoken, asser ve, and thrives
on social and professional engagement.
• Agreeableness: Low to Moderate. He can be argumenta ve
and comba ve, especially with Somerset, but shows loyalty and love for
his wife.
• Neuro cism: High. Mills is emo onally vola le, easily
angered, and struggles with managing frustra on, especially as the case
progresses.

3. John Doe (the killer, played by Kevin Spacey)

 John Doe is a fic onal serial killer in the 1995 movie Se7en, portrayed by
Kevin Spacey. Spacey's portrayal of Doe is considered a remarkable
performance that le a las ng impression on audiences.
Doe is a sociopathic killer who jus fies his crimes by blaming the world's
ignorance of the Seven Deadly Sins.
 He sermonizes to Detec ves Somerset and Mills about each sin, star ng
with Glu ony.
 Doe's mo va ons are to shock the world out of its apathy.
Archetype
Personality: Cold, calculated, and obsessive.
Behavioral Link: John Doe’s behavior is linked to narcissism and
psychopathy. He has an extreme belief in his own righteousness, showing
manipula ve and emo onally detached traits.
5 factor model
Openness: High. John Doe is highly crea ve (albeit in a disturbing way) in
execu ng his crimes and construc ng his moral philosophy.
• Conscien ousness: Very High. His murders are me culously
planned and executed with extreme precision.
• Extraversion: Low. He avoids social interac ons and works
in isola on, revealing himself only to deliver his message.
• Agreeableness: Very Low. John Doe lacks empathy and
shows no concern for others, believing his ac ons are jus fied.
• Neuro cism: Low. He remains eerily calm, controlled, and
unwavering in his beliefs, even in the face of death.

4. Detec ve William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman)


Jaded and Faded
Detec ve Somerset is the veteran detec ve, world-weary and red. All
he wants is to wrap up this sicko serial murder case and re re, leaving
the city to go live in a farmhouse somewhere. And, of course, this last
case is extra intense.
Somerset is a good detec ve, but perhaps he's crossed the border from
cool and calm into apathe c and jaded. This is one reason he ini ally
bu s heads with Mills, the young hotshot assigned as his partner for his
last week on the force. He treats Mills like a flunky, shooing him from the
crime scene to interview neighbors. Mills says. He wants to be treated
fairly, con nuing.
But, the two slowly warm up to each other. It helps that Mills' wife, Tracy,
doesn't have the same need to prove herself that her husband does.
Mills and Somerset become friends a er Tracy invites Somerset over for
dinner. And Tracy, not having any other friends, confides in Somerset
when she is pregnant and too worried to tell her husband. Maybe
somewhere under his tough exterior, he has a gooey center.
Archetype
Personality: Though ul, methodical, and calm.
Behavioral Link: Somerset is highly conscien ous and emo onally stable.
He carefully analyzes situa ons, reflec ng a reserved personality focused
on order and reflec on.
The Five Factor Model of Personality (Big Five) is a psychological
framework that categorizes personality traits into five dimensions:
Openness, Conscien ousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and
Neuro cism (OCEAN).
5 factor model
Openness: High. Somerset is introspec ve, enjoys intellectual pursuits,
and deeply reflects on the moral complexi es of the case.
Conscien ousness: Very High. He is methodical, detail-oriented, and
takes a disciplined approach to his work.
Extraversion: Low. Somerset is reserved, prefers solitude, and shows
li le interest in socializing.
Agreeableness: Moderate to High. He is empathe c (especially towards
Tracy), but pragma c in his ac ons.
Neuro cism: Low. Somerset is calm and collected, even in high-
pressure situa ons, though he harbors existen al doubts and cynicism
about humanity.

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