What Does Edward Scissorhands Mean

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS RISES UP TO THE CONCEPT CONCERNING THE ‘OUTSIDER’
Edward Scissorhands (1990) directed by Tim Burton is a fictional story contrasting both fairytale and horror-imagery. The name of the film represents the movie because it is the name of the main character. The title gives away that the main character has only one real name which is “Edward” showing that he is different from others or maybe incomplete. The last name “Scissorhands” is there only for the purpose of bluntly describing who Edward was. This description of having scissors for hands raises questions about whether Edward was an actual human being. As expected, throughout the film many aspects of the context of an “Outsider” especially through the main character Edward

and in specific scenes widely using cinematic and literary techniques.
Once upon a time, on top of a hill in an old, gloomy mansion, lived a very old inventor.

The inventor was amazingly imaginative and made many shocking and ingenious devices. Suddenly, one day he chose to make a human being whom he later named Edward. Edward was like any other person. He had lungs, kidneys, liver, legs, face and everything a normal human should have. The inventor loved Edward and treated him as if he were his own son. However, because of his exceedingly old age the inventor passed away and thus Edward was left all alone in the spooky mansion, unfinished, having scissors instead of hands. Surprisingly, due to a dumbfounding event Edward’s life looked as if it was about to change for better or worse. Peg Boggs, a sales representative for Avon, accidentally notices the spooky mansion and so decides to go up to the mansion to find customers. Wandering around the huge, haunted mansion she finds Edward who emerges from the dark corner into the bright morning sunlight. Looking at how lonely Edward is, Peg is filled with compassion and decides to bring him to the town to live with her. His difference quickly becomes an obstacle which prevent him from being

fully accepted as a member of society. Soon, the unsuspecting Edward, becomes the focus of much gossip and awakes either curiosity, hilarity, anger or fear amongst the whole neighbourhood. Also, his innocence and good nature make him an easy victim for the unscrupulous. His artistic talent are exploited by all. And as he falls in love with Peg's daughter, she abuses his kindness and tricks him into helping her and her boyfriend burglar a house. His initial naivety leaves place to feelings of frustration, reject and revolt at people's ways. Edward also comes to realise, that he can be dangerous to others, that he is unable to even touch others without inadvertently harming them because of the sharpness of the blades he has instead of hands. Soon false rumours start spreading. People begin to fear him and wish him away.
This changes everything for Edward.

He meets many people and falls in love with Peg's daughter, Kim. He is a very artistic man and makes boring hedges into amazing pieces of art. The ladies of the neighbourhood are astonished by his talent and soon beg him to give them haircuts. The unique styles he creates soon make him a celebrity. However, there are several people who do not like Edward because of his 'deformity.' So, after a few shocking, horrifying events Edward is in serious danger of being killed as a violent neighbourhood calls out for his

blood.
This is a wonderful tale about love and kindness, but also about rejection and separation. It illustrates the limits of people's tolerance for what is different from them and how strangers, those who stray from the norm, commonly named 'misfits', awake mockery or fear from a society which will use them and ultimately reject them, thus breaking their innocence and goodness.
Edward Scissorhands, emphasises how hard it is for someone who is different to actually be accepted in a stereotypical society. A lot of people in society nowadays judge by appearance before they even have the chance to meet the person properly. Often if a negative impression is given off by a person that you are not very familiar with, you will automatically feel a sense of disconnection towards that person; convincing you to not accept their differences

The acting is impeccable. Depp's performance as Edward is truly touching and Keaton and Price's characters are full of gentleness. Their good-nature shows humanity at its best while some other characters efficiently show its least pleasant aspects. The photography is quite beautiful and is thematically based on a strong contrast between Edward's universe, the dark noiseless castle, strongly influenced by the gothic visual style, with the town, filled with bright colours and voices. The apparently gloomy castle is in fact a shelter from the seemingly happy outside world, which is in fact, much darker and sinister underneath its bright colours.

Rating: ★★★★☆