How does the director establish character in Se7en ?

How does the director establish character.

The director uses mise en scene perfectly well to establish Detective William R. Somerset's character in the pre title sequence.

Firstly, the scene of Mr Somerset in his own kitchen , there is a chess board which indicates that the character is intelligent and is engaged in games which involves concentration and deep thinking. The next shot shows Somerset adjusting his tie with his spotless white shirt on, which gives us an opinion of him being a (hard) working man. Then the director shows us five items which are perfectly aligned with each other, each of the items tell us something about his character. The first item is a paper rose which (we can assume) he carries with him at all time. This could be a reminder of someone of importance to him for example his wife, which may no longer be by his side, presumed dead, therefore the rose emphasizes his deep love for his wife. The next object is a golden badge which shows his superiority and his high status of authority. Next to the badge there is a very nice looking pocket knife which acts as a 'Chekhov's gun' and gives a sense of violence to the character which may be accumulating inside him or, maybe just adds a sense of the anger within him. However we learn that this isn't a tool for violence , but  a key. In fact Somerset is the key holder to something big.

Then the next two items are an expensive looking pen which further emphasizes an intellectual individual and his gun which emphasizes that he's also a deadly enforcer, but the gun is in its holster, which could signify his caution to use violence. (In contrast , if this was detective Mills' gun it would probably be shown tossed carelessly on the bed free of its holster.). This variety of objects show that he is a complex character and also gives an indication to the enigma within him. The fact that they are perfectly aligned with each other ,connotes that he maybe a perfectionist who manages his things in a tidy manner. This almost obsession is supported by his fastidiousness shown his removal of a minute dust speck from his coat. 

The metronome symbolises time running out which is very significant as the film's plot is focused on a seven day deadline. It also shows that he is ''mentally disturbed' as he needs the metronome to fall asleep . Additionally the metronome is a method of blocking out the disturbing sounds - sirens and rain -  which can be seen as the city's 'sins' which relate to the film's theme "The seven deadly sins".

Furthermore, through the dialogue the director gives the audience a greater insight into his character. At the time of the investigation of the murder scence he asks his colleague "Did the kids see it" which shows sympathy towards children which might be his 'soft spot' whereas his colleague does not care and replies with the happy thought of Somerset's retirement which gives some back round information that he is soon to retire.