Edward Scissorhands Theme Analysis
In Edward Scissorhands the main focus of the film is the character Edward himself. Edward is an invention that would appear to be a monster, but has a very good soul. He was left alone and socially disconnected after his inventor died, leaving him “unfinished” with scissors for hands. He is dressed in a strange leather outfit and has a messy, untamed black hair. Looking into his eyes you could see the heartache of being trapped in an unwanted body.
Edward resides alone in the dark dusty mansion before Peg, an Avon selling representative, barges in and takes him home after seeing how helpless of a person he is. Edward is a very gentle and humble human being with a disconnection to the real world. Being secluded from everything for so long he desired the attention Peg was willing to give. I think Tim Burton’s primary aim was to sketch out this unique character with his fascinating personality.
He wanted to show the audience how this person may look like a monster but on the inside he is really someone special. He easily fascinates the neighbors with his shrub trimming and hair cutting skills. Edward ends up falling in love with Peg’s daughter Kim, who was dating the towns bully Jim. Jim always made Edward feel less of a person than he is, and pointed out that he would never be able to hold Kim’s hand without hurting her. Edward gets tricked into a “robbery” and this misunderstanding turns the town against him.
If Edward were just another neighbor, this misunderstanding would have been forgivable. However, since Edward is different and mistaken as harmful he is shunned out of the town after trying to save Kim’s little brother off the street. Edward ends up back in seclusion in the black and white mansion out of the town where they believe he is dead. The town returns back to normal, but Edward continues to touch them by giving the effect of snow falling with the shavings of his ice sculptures.
I think Tim Burton’s film, Edward Scissorhands, makes a significant statement on judging others out of the norm. People in today’s society have a hard time accepting others that are different, even people from other cultures. This film demonstrates how society works by the brightly colored, similarly fashioned neighbors and the opposite, Edward, trying to be accepted for who he is. As Peg explained to Edward, “blending is the secret”, it almost appears as if Edward was more human than those of the suburb.
