Religious Characteristics of John Doe
Doe shouts to the Detectives to grab their attention in the lobby of police headquarters. Soon, he offers himself to confess for all the murders he has
done through his lawyer named Mark Swarr in one condition that Detectives Mills and Somerset escort him to a scene in which John Doe says there are
two more bodies that will be found. If they refuse the offer, John Doe will confess a plea of insane. Therefore, the Detectives accept the first offer.
When they arrive at the promised crime scene of two more bodies, there is a van approaching. Somerset stops the van and asks the driver to get
out. The driver says that he is told by John Doe to deliver a package for Detectives Mills
at that place at seven o‟clock. So, Somerset asks him to put the package on the ground and commands him to run away. Somerset decides
to open the box, instead of Mills because he is afraid if it is a bomb. After he opens it, his face turns into a horror and yells to Mills immediately; tells him
to put the gun down and not to approach the box because John Doe has a control for his action.
“John Doe has the upper hand” Walker, 1994: 116 says Somerset.
While Somerset runs back to Mills and Doe, Doe tries to attract Mills‟
attention by telling him that he admires Mills‟ life and wife. He tells Mills that he visits Tracy Mills‟ wife after he left for work and tries to “play husband”
Walker, 1994: 117, howev er “it didn‟t work out. So, I took a souvenir… Her
pretty head ” 1994: 117. He admits to Mills that he is offended of the envy
sin. “Because I envy your normal life. Envy is my sin” Walker, 1994: 118
says John Doe. Even, Mills does not know that Tracy i s pregnant. “She
begged for her life, and for the life of your baby inside her… you didn‟t know
” Walker, 1994: 119. This immediately brings Mills to become enraged, grief, and horror. Somerset tries to stop him, tells him to throw his
gun, because if Mil ls shoots Doe, he will win “He wants this He wants you to
do it ” Walker, 1994: 118; but Mills is still pointing his gun to Doe‟s head.
“Kill me” Walker, 1994: 118 says John Doe. Somerset suddenly brings out his blade in order to prevent Mills action for killing Doe. But, Mills notices it,
so he shoots Somerset‟s shoulder instead. Then, he empties his bullets into John Doe‟s head.
John Doe has his eyes on Mills from the beginning since his arrival as newcomer in the city. He finds Mills as a sinner of wrath, because he shows
that he is a kind of person which is temperamental, brash, and feeling free to curse every time he gets angry. It is proven after Somerset and Mills visited
Victor‟s apartment, and they are caught in John Doe‟s plan. Mills feels insulted by urine sample, hair sample, stool sample, and finger nails of Victor;
Mills says “He laughing at us” Walker, 1994: 55. They are found under the sheet of Victor‟s bed put in an open shoebox with the note “TO THE
DETECTIVES, FROM ME” Walker, 1994: 54. SOMERSET
The way this has gone till now, I wouldn‟t have thought it was possible, but we may have underestimated this guy.
MILLS I want him bad. I don‟t just want to catch him anymore. I
want to hurt him. SOMERSET
Listen to me. He‟s all about playing games. MILLS
No kidding No fucking kidding