Edward Scissorhands

One of my favorite films from childhood and of all time is Edward Scissorhands. A story of a man, more like a boy, who was created by an old inventor and was never finished. He lived his life as a man half finished with scissors for hands, all alone in a castle. The story picks up when a woman from this seemingly perfect town brings him into her world. This results in much interest from the townspeople, and eventually havoc. This story intertwines the idea of judgment, trust, right and wrong, and above all, love.

When we were speaking in class about nature, then people in nature, common people without education, rural life, and elementary feelings, the first connection that came to my mind was this story of Edward Scissorhands. To start with how this film connects with so much of what we have been discussing in class, I have to go back to the concept of body and the other and how they are represented. Edward is made to look as if he is not fully a person, he is made to be the other. He is pale and scarred, his hair is disheveled, and his body isn’t even complete. He is also dressed in a very constricting leather outfit that is almost made to seem like it is his version of skin because it is never taken off. When he is brought into the town, he is put in regular clothing to cover up his strange outfit to make him less like the other.

Now that we have his body down, the biggest connection is to this new concept of nature and structure of feeling. Edward is kept in a castle by himself for almost all his life. The only view to the outside world that he had was his inventor speaking to him and reading to him. This lack of exposure comes out when he is trying to assimilate with the “normal” townspeople. His lack of knowledge of the outside world creates conflict with the townspeople. He is almost like a child, a person of full innocence, with no knowledge of any other world but his rural lonely one. This innocence connects to nature. Edward, though he was created and not born, he is about as natural as one can get. He has had no real guidance that would shape him and his ideas as a person. Without this guidance, he is in a state of total natural innocence.

The story comes down to love. Edward falls in love with a girl and is willing to do anything for her. He trusts completely and struggles with what is right and wrong because of this blind trust. What I find interesting is that, though he is practically a child in this natural state, he is capable of loving another. He loves in a way that almost all of us as viewers can relate to, even though his character isn’t supposed to be the easiest to relate to. The structure of feeling that is seen in Edward Scissorhands is this concept of innocence and love. This makes it no wonder why this film has made such an impact.