Throughout the movie we hear the church bells ring - both in the city and back in the countryside. Does the bell-ringing represent something? It seemed to be ringing an awful lot, which makes me think there is some sort of symbolism or something with the story.
Anyone have any ideas or thoughts on this?
One time I heard someone say "if you have to ask what something represents, it might not represent anything at all." I do think you raise an interesting point that I didn't think about the first time I watched the film. Watching it again, I think the bells highlight important emotional moments or turning points (he fails to kill the wife, he asks for her forgiveness at the wedding, the city woman whistles for him when he collapses in the wife's bed). That may be simplifying it too much, but I don't believe it goes any deeper than that.
shareThat's a good thought on the emotional moments/turning points.
I like the saying "if you have to ask what something represents, it might not represent anything at all," but I'm still inclined to think the bell does have a deliberate meaning, particularly because this is a silent film. The fact that all sound effects for the movie were added separately from filming leads me to believe that.
Thanks for the response, scurto270.
To each his own; this is my opinion.
"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Which always prompts my question: what is the cigar when it isn't just a cigar, and how can you tell the difference?
The story of symbols, metaphors and allegories -- don't sell the symbols short. A good story is filled with them. It allows the storyteller to tell two stories at one time.
***********************Spoilers below***************************
I believe that the bells signify sunrise and sunset.
When the man is about to drown his wife, we hear a lot of bells signifying midnight (the darkest hour). A metaphor to the relationship between the man and wife.
Later on in the end, with the sun rising in the background, the tolling bells add to the metaphor of a new beginning for the man and his wife.
This is my opinion and I never said that I am always right..
That's a very interesting (and logical) thought on what the bell represents, ankitjain00. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for your input!
To each his own; this is my opinion.
I thought the bells were church bells, and reminded the characters of morality - when the man was about to sin (murder his wife) and when he regained his morality (at the wedding).
shareExactly. I thought that was pretty obvious, especially as village people are more pious. Morality, wedding vows, and also death (thus judgment eventually) e.g. at the scene when the man lies in bed and thinks about drowning and disappears in the water.
Art's Top 100 Movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/e-VkvtHDDNQ/ - recommendations welcome!
I strongly believe the bells are a literary archetype played during key moments of transcendence in the film.
share