Acosta 1

Adrianna Acosta

Harris

AP Lang/Comp Pd. 2

20 November 2020

Individuality within Edward Scissorhands

The film Edward Scissorhands, directed by Tim Burton, reveals a consistent theme

throughout the film whilst using contrasting colors and differences between characters to

get this point across. Throughout, it is shown by Tim Burton that one should value

individuality and accept one’s true self, rather than seeking acceptance from society or

societal viewpoints because in the end, there are some people who will never be widely

accepted, no matter how hard they try to fit in amongst others and their views.

In this film, Tim Burton uses contrasting colors throughout in order to show the

differences and societal views within the town this film takes place in. In one of the beginning

scenes of the movie, Peg enters Edward Scissorhands’s house in hopes of finding a new client

for her business. She wears bright pink and purple colors as she walks into the dark and old

mansion, inevitably showing that she is a cheerful person. As she makes her way through and

stands out inside the dark room, she catches Edward by surprise and is skeptical of him because

of the contrast between his black clothing as well as his makeup. In this moment, Peg is the first

person, besides his creator, who has ever accepted him socially. She has yet to know him but

from her societal viewpoints and what she believes to be true, she takes time to understand him

and know him rather than running away because of his appearance. Although it can clearly be

seen that Peg and Edward are two tremendously different people, she grows to accept him for

who he is, even if she had felt intimidated by him in the first minute of their confrontation. Peg’s
 Acosta 2

bright pink clothing holds the common stereotype that she is energetic, outgoing, etc. while

Edward’s dark and less vibrant clothing and makeup fits into the “lone” stereotype, those who

are said to not fit in, or are considered outcasts. The differences between his dark and mysterious

mansion and the towns pastel neighborhood made him stand out enough. Society’s assumptions

and bias for their own opinions can be a deciding factor on whether or not someone is accepted

in their eyes, tying into later scenes when Edward had been introduced to the neighboring

families and friends within the town. At first glance, nearly everyone had been skeptical of

Edward because of his appearance and how they had imagined him to be. When Edward began

cutting and designing hedges for those who resided in the neighborhood. He followed acts of

kindness in order to feel accepted within the town, yet everyone had used him for what he can

accomplish instead of taking time to understand him. Another example is when Edward had

given a dog a grooming, and those who lived there used it to their advantage and took their dogs

to Edward to be groomed. Their assumptions of Edward that were made before meeting him had

been that he was frightening and intimidating. His black clothing and appearance had been taken

as a sign of danger, and many avoided him all because of his clothing and what they believed it

represented. While these stereotypes rose, Edward simply wanted to be accepted into a society in

which he would not be judged, which can tie into the ideas of social isolation and societal views.

Edward had never felt true acceptance in these moments because they were not accepting of him,

but of his talent and what he could do for them instead. Edward craves acceptance to the point of

vulnerability and taking what he can, but although he is vulnerable, he knows he will never be

taken in completely because of what society deems to be true, which leads him to be isolated

once again in the end of the film, just as he was in the beginning of the film. He realizes this

when he is used by Kim and her friends only to be set up to rob a house and humiliated, simply
 Acosta 3

because they knew he would do it out of kindness. Edward was never officially accepted by

those in the town, he was accepted when he was of use to them as it was beneficial for their own

lives. Towards the end of the film, Edward and Kim are face to face at the top of his dark

mansion. The darkness of Edward and his house and the bright white and pink of Kim’s clothing

had collided and again showed the differences between the two. Although Kim had been

accepting of Edward and who he was, he realized in the end that all he needs is to be able to

accept himself for who he is rather than relying on others to accept him because he wants to be

part of society. Edward comes to a deep realization after the town begins to think negatively of

him and comparing him to the “reincarnation of Satan”. Edward yearned to be accepted into

society and was seen as a threat when in reality he was vulnerable and misunderstood. Society

will never be accepting unless one can meet their social expectations and norms, and that is

simply impossible to do. In the end, people will never live up to all societal expectations, self-

love, acceptance, and individuality are lessons to be taught within this film. Society’s opinions,

norms, and guidelines are constantly changing and one, such as Edward, cannot force themselves

into a reality where ultimately, they are not welcomed. Kim leaving Edward in the mansion

alone shows Edward finally letting go of others views of him and who they believe he should be.

In the beginning, he acted out of kindness in order to be accepted, such as grooming the

neighbor’s dog, yet they took advantage of him. He later realizes that he will never be widely

accepted for his society and takes a step into self-acceptance and realizing that self-awareness is

far more important than fitting in with society, because in the end, not everyone does.
 Acosta 4

Work Cited

Edward  Scissorhands.  Directed by Tim Burton, performances by Johnny Depp and Winona Ry-

der, 20th Century Studios, 1990.