Persona, directed by Ingmar Bergman, is a psychological drama that delves deep into identity, isolation, and the human psyche. The story revolves around a famous actress, Elisabet Vogler, who suddenly stops speaking, and her nurse, Alma, who takes care of her. As they retreat to a secluded summer house, their identities begin to blur and intertwine, leading to a powerful exploration of self and other.
Literary Devices Used in Persona
1. Symbolism
Movie Scene
Device Example
Opening sequence with various symbolic images
The film opens with a montage of symbolic images, including a spider, a sheep being slaughtered, and a nail being hammered into a hand, suggesting themes of entrapment, sacrifice, and pain.
Elisabet’s refusal to speak symbolizes a deeper psychological withdrawal and the breakdown of her identity.
2. Metaphor
Movie Scene
Device Example
Alma and Elisabet’s face merging
The scene where Alma and Elisabet’s faces blend into one serves as a metaphor for their merging identities and the fluidity of self.
The broken glass
The scene where Alma cuts herself on broken glass can be seen as a metaphor for the fragility of the human psyche and the potential for self-destruction.
3. Motif
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Device Example
Repeated shots of faces
The frequent close-ups of faces throughout the film emphasize the motif of identity and the human condition.
The recurring contrast between Elisabet’s silence and Alma’s speech highlights the motif of communication and its complexities.
4. Juxtaposition
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Device Example
Contrasting monologues
The film often places Alma’s expressive monologues against Elisabet’s silence, juxtaposing their different ways of coping with reality.
Light and shadow
The stark lighting contrasts, especially in the scenes in the summer house, juxtapose clarity and obscurity, reflecting the characters’ inner turmoil.
5. Allegory
Movie Scene
Device Example
Opening sequence
The surreal opening sequence serves as an allegory for the subconscious mind and the various elements that constitute human identity.
Alma’s storytelling
Alma’s recounting of her past experiences can be interpreted as an allegory for guilt, shame, and the search for self-understanding.
6. Foreshadowing
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Device Example
Elisabet’s initial reaction to Alma
Elisabet’s intense gaze at Alma in the beginning foreshadows their later psychological entanglement.
The letter Alma finds
The letter Alma discovers, in which Elisabet writes about her, foreshadows the eventual breakdown of trust and the blurring of their identities.
7. Irony
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Device Example
Elisabet’s profession
Elisabet, an actress who uses her voice to convey emotions, ironically chooses silence in real life, highlighting the disconnect between her public persona and private self.
Alma’s control
Alma, who initially seems to have control over the silent Elisabet, gradually loses her own sense of identity and control, creating situational irony.
Literary and Cinematic Techniques: The opening montage is a collage of symbolic imagery and surreal sequences. It sets the tone for the film’s exploration of identity and psychological conflict. The juxtaposition of serene and disturbing images introduces the film’s themes and prepares the audience for the psychological journey.
