Lars van Trier attempts to remind us that the moral rules which we think govern our daily lives are very fragile and could be easily altered to justify even the gravest of crimes.
One aspect of this fragility is what is known as in-group/out-group problem which might explain why social groups have different sets of moral rules when it comes to treating outsiders. This dichotomy can explain why the value ascribed to the live can be so different. The distinction allows otherwise 'good people' suspend their ordinary moral rules when it comes to outsiders. In extreme cases, this resulted in persecution of Jews by the 'good Germans', torture of terrorists by the 'good Americans', or bombing hundreds of thousands of German civilians to death during WWII by the 'good British'. And in this respect, Grace's social status allows for this selective morality to take place. She has never been accepted by the villagers and hence ordinary moral rules did not have to apply to her.
Another aspect is that morality often gives in to other more pragmatic considerations including those of economic benefit. Again, one of the contemporary examples could be the oil grab by the US branded as 'energy independence' policies which has the popular support across the entire country. And in the movie, as villagers start to realize clear economic benefits associated with Grace's presence their conflicting economic interests escalate the situation to her downright exploitation. Since ordinary in-group morality does not apply in her case, there is no limit to how sinister this exploitation can develop. As long as she remains excluded from their tight social group, it is not immoral even to slave her sexually.
Finally, van Trier clearly believes that moral rules can be equally suspended by anyone in the society. So, in this respect there is no difference between evil gangsters and righteous villagers, rationalizing philosophers and primitive philistines, spiritual church-goers and pragmatic atheists, or even corrupted adults and innocent children. All members of these usually contrasted social groups manage to participate in tormenting Grace due to psychopathic, economic or political reasons.
Perhaps this startling uniform complicity of entire society is the focal point of van Trier's work. This irresolvable problem in which every individual and society at large is responsible for horrendous crimes committed throughout the history of humankind is so grandeur it begs for some sort of solution. And although the director's solution might seem containing a self-referential problem which might require extermination of entire humanity, nevertheless under this vision it is clear why even a baby was killed in the aftermath: to save the world from the 'human plague' before it has the potential to harm anyone.
The story is thus a startling critique of both society for being a cruel divisive exploitative authority, and the concept of 'morality' for being fragile and essentially meaningless. It is an excellent dark social parody from the contemporary Voltaire.
One aspect of this fragility is what is known as in-group/out-group problem which might explain why social groups have different sets of moral rules when it comes to treating outsiders. This dichotomy can explain why the value ascribed to the live can be so different. The distinction allows otherwise 'good people' suspend their ordinary moral rules when it comes to outsiders. In extreme cases, this resulted in persecution of Jews by the 'good Germans', torture of terrorists by the 'good Americans', or bombing hundreds of thousands of German civilians to death during WWII by the 'good British'. And in this respect, Grace's social status allows for this selective morality to take place. She has never been accepted by the villagers and hence ordinary moral rules did not have to apply to her.
Another aspect is that morality often gives in to other more pragmatic considerations including those of economic benefit. Again, one of the contemporary examples could be the oil grab by the US branded as 'energy independence' policies which has the popular support across the entire country. And in the movie, as villagers start to realize clear economic benefits associated with Grace's presence their conflicting economic interests escalate the situation to her downright exploitation. Since ordinary in-group morality does not apply in her case, there is no limit to how sinister this exploitation can develop. As long as she remains excluded from their tight social group, it is not immoral even to slave her sexually.
Finally, van Trier clearly believes that moral rules can be equally suspended by anyone in the society. So, in this respect there is no difference between evil gangsters and righteous villagers, rationalizing philosophers and primitive philistines, spiritual church-goers and pragmatic atheists, or even corrupted adults and innocent children. All members of these usually contrasted social groups manage to participate in tormenting Grace due to psychopathic, economic or political reasons.
Perhaps this startling uniform complicity of entire society is the focal point of van Trier's work. This irresolvable problem in which every individual and society at large is responsible for horrendous crimes committed throughout the history of humankind is so grandeur it begs for some sort of solution. And although the director's solution might seem containing a self-referential problem which might require extermination of entire humanity, nevertheless under this vision it is clear why even a baby was killed in the aftermath: to save the world from the 'human plague' before it has the potential to harm anyone.
The story is thus a startling critique of both society for being a cruel divisive exploitative authority, and the concept of 'morality' for being fragile and essentially meaningless. It is an excellent dark social parody from the contemporary Voltaire.