Themes, Analysis, and Interpretations

Themes, Analysis, and Interpretations

Edward Scissorhands, when conceived and
invented, was no specific race, assumed no
class distinction, and belonged to no family
structure.

Instead, Edward was given exceptional
talents which he used to sculpt highly
creative objects.

He was "born" with the desire for individual
expression.

Upon entering the Boggs Family and
suburbia, Edward begins to experience
pressures of conformity. Immediately,
changes are made to his appearance and
ideas are instilled in his mind in order to make
Edward a "normal" citizen.

The issue of the "norm" and its attainment,
are developed through specific female
characterizations and, in general, gender
relationships.

By examining the female roles in this film,
one can see clearly the manifestation of
conformist ideals in the community. Women,
for instance, are most aggressive in their
interaction with Edward.

Peg, his adopted mother, produces her
husband's old clothing to wear over his
patched leather suit. As the local Avon
representative, she also attempts to
"suburbanize" his facial appearances by
comically applying various cosmetics
products.

Men in the community also attempt to
impose their own values on Edward. At a
neighborhood barbecue(Karen Schwartz),
Edward earns the respect of the males by
displaying his expertise in hedge sculpting.
The male obligation of lawn maintenance
prompts each to invite Edward to landscape
his own lawn, fearful of not meeting the new
standards of the community.

Edward's relationship with each gender
reveals the suburban mentality in which he is
placed.

Community rituals, as well as taboos, become
defined as the film progresses through each
situation. The necessity to conform to
community standards regarding these rituals
is of the utmost priority.

The stereotypical suburban housewife lives in
this Florida community.

In fact, Burton exaggerates each
characterization, in order to fully depict these
aspects of suburban attitudes.

First, women are trend setters. There is a need
for each housewife to maintain a certain position
in the competition for new styles and modish
ideas.

In one scene, for instance, one woman discovers Edward's
creative skill in trimming dogs' hair (different from
shrubbery).

The next scene proceeds to show a line of women,
representative of the entire neighborhood, dog in hand,
waiting to have their own pets receive a similar haircut.
Joyce, one neighborhood woman, thoroughly impressed
with her puppy's haircut, insists on having Edward cut her
own frizzy mane.

Once the women observe Edward's skill in trimming
women's hair (different from dog's hair), the long line
becomes one for their own hairstyle renovation.

There is very little individual decision making
in this event, or those that follow. The
neighborhood women fully abandon their
opinions, trusting blindly in Edward's tastes
and judgments to determine their "personal"
styles.

In this sense, Edward Scissorhands is
accepted as the only creative, individualistic
force in the community.

As the plot develops, however, the women
perceive his diversity as threatening and as a
sign of evil.

One of the ladies, Joyce, tries to seduce
Edward. It is after his rejection that she labels
him a freak. She further outcasts him by
claiming that he had attempted to rape her
while they were alone.

The specific events that follow are an
excellent example of a modern-day witch
hunt.

Women also serve as the keepers of the
community. In a sense, they are the
inspectors who "police" the daily activities of
the individual citizens.

The "grapevine" is dramatized, depicting women
rushing to the telephone to report the latest gossip to
their friends. Gossip includes any minor disruption in
the normal routine of the day.

For instance, when Peg was first seen driving with
Edward, the neighborhood network communicated
the news within a few minutes.

The more significant gossip would require a
community meeting, located at a certain street corner
with all women present for group discussion.

The status of a housewife in the community is
revealed through another suburbanite ritual. At
the neighborhood barbecue(Mandy Dainis)
scene, women are more than eager to hand-feed
Edward a sample of their homemade party dip.

Each special-recipe dip represents a certain level
of achievement for each individual housewife.
Ironically, as each woman strives for personal
distinction, the act of bringing the party dip
reaffirms the conformist ideals of suburbia.

As each car files down the street, the men of the
household assume their roles as providers.

This ritual is reinforced by the fact that no men
are seen during the day throughout the film.

As the traditional suburbanite breadwinner,
males are portrayed to value only a few, straight
forward qualities: discipline and financial
stability.

Edward's differences both appearance-wise
and talent-wise gained him acceptance into a
tightly knit suburban community.

However, at the conclusion of the film, it is
these differences which lead to his hostile
expulsion from the community.

The results of numerous attempts to mold
him into a product of suburban ideals, proved
only to be superficial. During time of crisis,
the citizens immediately blamed the one who
was different among themselves. Edward
was targetted for anger, criticism, and
eventual reparation for the evils present in
the community.

In retrospect, Peg re-evaluates her initial decision:
"You know, when I brought Edward down here to live with
us, I really didn't think things through. I didn't think about
what could happen to him, or to us, or to the
neighborhood. And now I think, maybe it might be best if
he goes back up there...because at least there he's safe...
and we'll just go back to normal.“

In recognizing the inflexibility of the suburban community,
she simultaneously reveals the essence of suburban
culture itself. The absolute necessity for maintaining this
"normal" state drives the people and all component parts
of suburbia in their common direction.

The film, Edward Scissorhands, portrays a
suburban community that protects itself
through exclusion.

It is the typical suburbia, described by Robert
Fishman in Bourgeois Utopias which is based
on the principal of exclusion.

Through exaggeration, Tim Burton, the
director of the film, offers an insight on the
misunderstanding, mistreatment, and
exploitation often experienced by "outsiders".
"Outsiders" can include a broad group of
people.

In the class readings, we have seen that this
could include anyone of a different race,
class, religion, sexual orientation, or even
mentality.

As in Edward Scissorhand's case, many of
these victims are talented, creative, and
intelligent. However, their potentials are
never realized in the hostile environment of
exclusion.

When coupled with the ideal of conformity
these barriers will only perpetuate the
problems. Furthermore, the denial of selfexpression will only deprive society from
growth and development.

Burton's commentary seems not to pertain
only to suburbia, but possibly to all
exclusionary elements of society.