A character I most closely identify with

Rating: 9/10 (2 May 2002)

-contains spoilers-
In the movie Edward Scissorhands, the writing style of the film was a perfect match to the emotional and sociological story being told. In retrospect, the working script to the film is rather placid and full of gaps, but the cinematography creates words and speeches that aren't enhanced by human subjects. A person's place in the world is determined by the acceptance of others, i.e. the suburban middle class.
The character Edward Scissorhands represents many subtexts the film didn't wish to make obvious. His place in modern society is eschewed due to his unusual outward appearance. His black clothing and pale, white face clashes with the status quo. Director Tim Burton intentionally altered the landscapes and clothing to imply these messages, making Edward the center of a pastel-loaded world. But it is also this difference which ultimately breathes life to his alienation from society.
Conformity was king, and not a spoken word was ever uttered about such a subject through out the movie. Instead, there are several moments that create this instability. The very moment Mrs. Boggs sees Edward, she instantly judges him as some killer/rapist before feeling pity for the befuddled individual. Throughout the rest of the film, Boggs tries desperately to make Edward look normal like the rest of the neighborhood, ultimately failing in such a diversion. Another example would be Edward's lack of dialogue during the film.
While Johnny Depp physically embodied Edward, the quiet demeanor of the character constructed a stark contrast to everyone else in the world. Edward kept his mouth shut so he could fit in. He accepted everyone's good will with little more than a simple `thank you.' During the entire movie, Edward didn't even speak 100 words. While other characters made assumptions and jokes about Edward as a person, few of them ever looked deep into his soul. As it turns out, Edward's personality was established by what he did as opposed to what he said.
Using his actions as the only frame of reference, Edward possessed many traits which were complex. He truly didn't know the meaning of wrong and right, even though he understood the means of enforcing such boundaries. For example, when he broke into someone's house, he knew it was wrong, but he did it anyway because someone asked him to. He was an impressionable individual, seeking personal satisfaction through friendship and even love. Edward was also terribly shy, which explained his inability to make friends. Instead, he felt doing good deeds for people would create a sense of camaraderie with the community. At first, cutting people's hedges and hair made him the focal point of everyone's life, but after a while, his welcome was worn out. People were tired of him, and like some board game that is no longer challenging.
In the end, Edward returned to his solitary life, forever existing in his own little world of extroversion. Words didn't force him to return to this world, but the personal opinions and a rigid establishment did.