Lilly - Edward's Fairy Tale

Anytime the phrase "fairy tale" is mentioned the first thing most people think of is "Once upon a time" and "Happily ever after." They may think of Disney movies, with princes, princesses, castles, and evil witches or queens. Many people have forgotten what a fairy tale truly used to be. They weren’t necessarily always happy endings and were very often violent tales to teach children harsh lessons. The most well known fairy tales are the Grimm Brothers’ Tales. Even though they were violent the tales always had a moral to the story. From the goose that laid golden eggs, teaching people not to be greedy, to Hansel and Gretel, not to trust strangers.

What is moral in Edward Scissorhands? Morals are often open to interpretation, so some could even ask if there is any moral in the film. Today many people consider things like chivalry, nobleness, and morality to be lost and not exemplified. In the film, the neighborhood, at first, accepts Edward despite his extremely different look. He has huge scissors for hands but people are so bored with their own lives that they are interested in him. At first they all love him for his talents but when Edward does something wrong they all turn their backs on him even though they known what he is really like. They don’t allow for an explanation even though Edward did it for someone he loved. Edward was created and taught things rather than being born. In one scene Edward is getting asked what he should do if he found a case full of money in the street. The family then gets into a debate about what the truly right thing to do is. They have a different idea of morality.

The idea that comes with suburbia is perfection and sameness. In the suburbia that Edward is taken to this isn’t all that true. The look of the neighborhood is "sameness" in the way that all the houses are the same few solid colors, cars, and perfect lawns. The husbands all go to work at the same time leaving the wives bored and looking for entertainment at home. You can see this when Joyce has the plumber over and she tries to seduce him. Everyone is in each others business even of its unwanted. This is one of the ways that they neighborhood transgresses, also when they all invite themselves over for a barbeque at the Boggs. The main part this is exposed is when the mob forms to go after Edward even though the police said to go home.