Existentialism as Exemplified in ‘the Seventh Seal’

Existentialism as Exemplified in ‘The Seventh Seal’ The Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. The film offers interwoven storyline. It starts with a game of chess between a medieval knight, Antonius Block, and Death – in which if Block won, Death will prolong the knight’s life. This game goes on in intermittent times. The knight is accompanied by his squire, Jà ¶ns, as they go back to the knight’s castle to be reunited with his wife. Throughout their journey, they come across various characters and people in the village who are struggling amidst the impending death brought about by the Black Plague. Block and Jà ¶ns met Jof and Mia, the couple who work as actors. There they have conversed with each†¦show more content†¦The existence of a Supreme Being is being summoned in situations where people are in need of such assistance. Truly a remarkable film, ‘The Seventh Seal’ effectively portrays this question in sight of existentialism. God, neither the devil, was not present. There was even a scene where Block asked the woman accused of having contact with the devil to summon the devil so that Block will be able to ask about the about the existence of God. Block was not able to see anything. As it turns out, the woman was falsely accused by the priest. Block came to a point where he asked the existence of God – when he confesses to Death, disguised as a priest – but Death himself did not give answers to this. Even at the end of the film, Death did not explain this to Block. Quoting Block, My life has been a futile pursuit, a wandering, a great deal of talk without meaning. I feel no bitterness or self-reproach because the lives of most people are very much like this. In what pursuit did he wasted his time into? Perhaps he was pertaining to his search for the existence of God. Aside from Block, a more existential character than him is introduced – his squire, Jà ¶ns. In Jà ¶ns’ conversation with the painter in the church, he mentioned that, This is squire Jà ¶ns. He grins at Death, mocks the Lord, laughs at himself and leers at the girls. His world is a Jà ¶ns-world, believable only to himself, ridiculous to all including himself, meaningless to Heaven and of no