Media Representations

The protagonist, Sweeney Todd is represented as a character with two sides. These two sides are signified by his two names: Benjamin Barker and Sweeney Todd. Benjamin Barker represents the protagonist's previous life shown in the flash backs. The mise-en-scene, such as the high key lighting and flowers props, connoting love beauty and life, signifies his life was happy and cheerful. In contrast Sweeny Todd is his new life signified by the dark mise en scen using low key lighing and a slight bright hue, which connotes sadness, reflecting the characters reveneful and sad emotions.

The Benjamin Barker representation seems to be unwillingly signified by the protagonist. He sings a song about himself, though reffering to himself in third person. The audience are aware of this as his flashbacks are sutured with the song narrating the flashback. The use of third person narative signifies the protagonist's separation from his old character. He could have developed as a character, or has forced himself to distance himself as he is afraid.

The character of Sweeney Todd is represented by the protagonist's actions, such as his crave for revenge. As he carelessly slits the throats of many of his customers, he sings "nice songs". This binary opposition signifies his confused, mixed state of mind. Though he is seen as the typical murderous villain, the audience are almost forced to sympathise with is history, turing him into an anti hero. This adds realism to the character as he is not "just" a Proppian villain, but that he has motives that are clearly recognised at the begining of the film.

Due to this, the film almost changes audience's opinions of the character Sweeney Todd. As it is a legendry story, people know of this character to be a total villain, but now see his other side.

However, it could be suggested that as the film is based on a real character, it is not possible for the film to represent the characters accuratly and fairly, as texts are mediated because audience has expectations of characters and their roles within films.