The Seventh Seal

Liam Kapples

Mr. Piazza

3 April 2018

Essay

The Question of Faith Oftentimes, whether intentional or not, a film can reflect the beliefs and opinions of those who create it. Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” reflects Bergman’s lifelong struggle with the existence of God. While the film is nearly 60 years old, the questions and topics it addresses are timeless. Why do bad things happen? What is the best way to live? Can we believe in God? The movie addresses these questions head on through the depiction of Antonius Block, and furthermore, serves as a critique of faith in general. Antonius is a man who has lost faith in God, and is seeking an alternate meaning in life. His interactions with the personification of Death allow viewers to directly

Yet at the same time, Bergman also argues that people will never stop in their pursuit of obtaining this knowledge and achieving peace within. So, one may ask, what is the best way to achieve this peace? What is the best way to alleviate this desire within? Again, Bergman answers this question through the portrayal of his protagonist, Antonius Block, as well as the minor characters of Jof and his family. In one scene of the film, after an incident at the public house of the town, Block, his squire, Jof, and Mia come together for a picnic. The picnic consists of simple foods, milk and strawberries. It is evident through Block’s change in attitude that his spirits are lifted. During the picnic, he seemingly forgets about his lifelong struggle, faith, and God. Through his struggle with the existence of God, Block decided one thing: he was going to do his best to complete at least one meaningful act in life before his death. Eventually, he finds the perfect opportunity to do just that. During a game of chess with the personification of Death, Block noticies Jof and his family in danger. Block intentionally knocks over the chess pieces, causing them to fall onto the ground. Thus serving as a distraction, and allowing Jof and his family to escape, unbeknownst to Death. After the pieces are collected and arranged back onto the chess board, Block tells Death that he has completed the one meaningful act in his life that he wished to complete. Block’s spirit is lifted, and if for not more than a split second, has satisfied his inner agitation. These two events have one thing in common- In both, block’s spirits are lifted and he is satisfied with himself. In these two events lie Bergman’s argument surrounding the best way to live. Life, Bergman argues, is to be lived not through God and faith, but instead