The Role of Women in The Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven

Annie Sullivan

October 19, 2009

Mapping Media Lab

In Both The Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven the plot revolves around ideas of traditional masculinity and the role of men as protectors. In both films the plot is propelled by action and emotions that are typically associated with the role of men as glorified warriors and saviors. To me these two films seem extremely masculine in almost everyway, which is why the role of women in the narratives interests me most. In both films the inclusion of one main female character is used, and although we only t get to see these characters threw their relationships with the men of the story, they still play an interesting narrative role in these films. In The Seven Samurai we have Shino, the daughter of a farmer who falls in love with one of the Samurai despite class difference or protocol, and in The Magnificent Seven we have Petra, also the daughter of a farmer who similarly falls in love with a gunslinger. Although the two romances in these films have similar ideas behind them, and mirror each other to a degree, the way the two women are portrayed are differentiated by slight but important circumstance and culture. Shino risks everything for the love of Katsushiro, a young Samurai, even though she knows she could never really be with him because of class differences, while Petra more judiciously gains the love of Chino, a gun slinger, who eventually chooses life with her over his chosen profession. In these two extremely masculine narratives it is interesting to compare and contrast the role that women represent, and both the positive and negative connotations that are associated with female sexuality. Although it may seem that Petra is more the feminist character between the two, I actually believe Shino is the braver of the two female characters and displays more of a feminist sensibility.

Shino is characterized as more traditionally submissive then Petra at first; however, Shino’s character allows herself to fall in love with a samurai despite her knowledge that class would never let them be together. The scene when we first meet Shino already tells us she is supposed to be a submissive and traditional woman by her father forcing her to cut her hair and dress like a man. However, this scene also holds important foreshadowing, because she Shino eventually does offer herself sexually to Katsushiro it is in acknowledgement that she knows it is a bad thing to be had by a Samurai and that it wills “ruined” her. When she chooses this for herself it gives her choice even greater significance because of the conscious rebellion behind it. By having a sexual relationship with Katsushiro, Shino is brazenly risking almost everything to fulfill a desire that she insists is greater than what happens in the future. The scene in which she first tells Katsushiro she would like a sexual relationship with him is significant to her characterization because she is the one who asks him, and is initially turned down. Although this could seem weak for her to allow herself to have this relationship, I believe it is empowering that she could choose love over whatever consequences resulted. At the end of the film when her affair is discovered she suffers from shame, and the inevitable end of her relationship with Katsushrio, and is ultimately seen as a foolish character in the film. . In the last scene when we see Shino ignoring Katsushiro, it initially seems sad. However I feel that it is a very interesting and almost feminist idea that she could have a sexual and romantic relationship with a man that was not ended in marriage.

Shino’s role in The Seven Samurai is seen more negatively than Petra’s role in The Magnificent Seven not because she was “looser” or because she was “
had”, but I believe because she embodied more of a feminist ideal. Her strong female sexuality is what got her in trouble, especially in the male dominated story of The Seven Samurai.

On the other hand Petra in The Magnificent Seven initially comes off as more of a strong willed woman, however this deteriorates as the narrative progresses. Unlike the role of Shino, Petra is introduced free of the context of duty to her family or submissiveness. Also, Petra does not exist in a social structure that is as a rigged as that in The Seven Samurai. Although it is made clear that the gunslingers are of a higher class, it is not out of the realm of possibility Petra and Chino could be together. The first introduction we have to Petra echoes that of our first introduction to Shino (also Shino’s first meeting with Katsushiro) with Petra and Chino fighting. However it is significantly difference because, unlike Shino, Petra is feisty and not particularly afraid of the gunslingers; despite her dressed as a man to disguise her sexuality for protection, she is still willing to fight Chino. Although Petra does run away, she is very quickly subdued by Chino. Almost immediately Chino’s masculinity overpowers Petra’s strong will, and her character quickly changes to submissive and romantic. Although she too is forward in her feeling for Chino, it is in a much more subdued and passive way, leaving her innuendos up to the imagination. Unlike Shino, Petra is concerned with her honor over her feelings. After her initial introduction Petra does not play as active a role in terms of her individual character. Rather, she is used as a non-threatening feminine character that ads warmth and texture to the other wise totally masculine plot. In the last scene when Chico decides to stay with Petra it seems to give more power to Petra’s character because she could make such a strong headed and young gunman give up his dream and settle down for the life of a farmer. I actually believe Petra plays things safe as compared to Shino, and therefore plays a safer and more traditional and positive female role in this narrative. Because she is non-threatening, Petra basically stays within the boundaries of socially expectable female sexuality, possessing just enough sass to entertaining, but just passive enough to be non-treating.

The inclusion of the love-subplots in these films is interesting, and I believe the way they play out changes the tone of the entire film. The Seven Samurai is in many ways a much more intense film than The Magnificent Seven, and the relationship between Shino and Katsushiro only adds to this harshness. Her role in this film is not only to provide a romantic element, but also to add to the over all idea that life is hard and not fair. The Magnificent Seven on the other hand is a feel good movie with high American morals. The romance between Petra and Chico truly does reflect this in both he moralities of their relationship and by highlighting the importance of love over all in Chinos staying with Petra in the end. Although both roles are not particularly important in the bigger narrative of the films, they do add texture to the over all messages of the films individually.