Sad but Most Beautiful: Edward Scissorhands

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The film Edward Scissorhands, directed by Tim Burton, tells the story of an artificial being who had never interacted with anyone other than his creator before reaching puberty. Despite his innocence, Edward may struggle to relate to his peers because his scissorhands cannot be replaced with normal human hands. While the story may be somewhat predictable, the film's stunning aesthetic, captivating performances, immersive music, and well-paced plot make it a must-see.

The Boy Deserves Love, He Just Can’t Have It

Edward was seen as an outsider, cursed to remain in his castle until a kind woman took him in out of compassion. The boy longs for companionship. Like his maker, he too needs to shape and reflect his own heart. When Peg, the mother of Kim, first met Edward, his appearance scared her and she excused herself to leave. However, Edward, who is also afraid of strangers, spoke his first words and said, "Don't go." These simple words immediately brought two strangers closer together and effectively conveyed Edward's loneliness and need for care. When Peg fearlessly wiped Edward's scars, Edward felt kindness.

The use of scissorhands serves as a poignant metaphor for the intricacy of human emotion in the movie. Edward's scissorhands are both a tool for his artistic creations and a means of protection for Kim. However, he was unable to ask her to accept the sharpness that came with it. When Kim sought comfort in his embrace, it was heartbreaking to see Edward unable to comply. This scene highlights the complexity of the relationship between Edward and Kim, as well as the challenges that they face.

Nevertheless, Edward was a man of many talents. He had a careful eye for detail, whether it be a bush, dog, or woman. He saw beauty in everything, and it inspired him to create art. His artwork was a reflection of his thoughts and feelings, a way to capture the essence of life and share it with the world. He was meticulous in his craftsmanship, taking his time to ensure that every stroke and every detail was perfect.

However, there were moments when his heart got in the way of his art, and he made mistakes. His feelings for Kim, the woman he loved, often clouded his judgment. He wanted to be gentle and kind to her, but sometimes his emotions got the best of him, he was careless simply because he cared too much about Kim.

Becase He Cares Too Much

Despite the challenges he faced, Edward's sincere love was cinematically portrayed as a monologue of a man who followed his impulses while struggling to balance them with wisdom. He was open about his feelings, and his love for Kim was pure and genuine. His greatest desire was to be with her, to hold her close, and to share his world with her. As he continued to create art and explore the world around him, he knew that he would always carry a piece of her in his heart and soul.

The film depicted a palpable tension between the characters' desire to control Edward's unique abilities and their admiration for his creative talent. This tension highlights the duality of human nature, wherein we frequently struggle to reconcile our instincts with our aspirations. Similar to Edward, who was not given a choice in his peculiar abilities, we too may at times regret our past actions and words. But this does not imply that we must give up on ourselves or others. Rather, we should endeavor to embrace and value our differences.

Edward’s leather jacket appears to be a contradiction, suggesting inner fear and difficulty expressing oneself. How often do we find ourselves attached to something we consider a part of us but cannot easily explain to others? We often hide behind a shell we don't want to shed. In an effort to prove ourselves, we may sharpen our personalities, but distance ourselves from intimacy with others. Nevertheless, don't we all hope to be seen by others? When Edward walks out of his castle, we are intrigued to know what will happen to him. Although we know he may not be accepted by the town, we genuinely hope he will be.

Edward's kindness, which he learned from Peg, allowed him to form meaningful connections with others. Unfortunately, this also made him vulnerable to the schemes of unscrupulous people. Kim’s original boyfriend framed Edward to be caught as a theft. Consequently, Edward was arrested and imprisoned, causing his neighbors to realize that his scissor hands could be dangerous.

Such plant is undoubtedly tragic, when it pays off in Edward's moments of despair, we see his inner turmoil. During a moment of isolation, as Edward is being wanted by the police, a dog approaches him. Despite the fact that Edward had previously taken out his anger on his gardening work, in the presence of his loyal canine companion, he calms down. He gently trims the hair that was obstructing the dog's vision with his scissors.

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Even though this moment represents Edward's lowest point, he wants the dog to see him clearly. This action not only confirms Edward's desire to be understood again but also reflects his willingness to open up and move forward. When Kim asks Edward why he decided to help her even though he knew he would be set up, he responds, "Because you asked me to." This sentence not only highlights the injustices that Edward has faced in the past but also emphasizes his motivation to help Kim - he feels that his presence is tied to his love for her.

True Love Isolated, Never Ended

Regrettably, this kind of love is devastating for Edward. While he won Kim's heart, Kim did not share the same sense of isolation as he did. Given Edward's inability to be accepted by society, it would be cruel for Kim to either elope with Edward or choose to remain with her family. Edward also cannot forgive himself for causing harm to others.

In this dilemma, the writer ultimately chose to have Kim use fake scissor hands to announce Edward's "death" to the public, and then gave the enigmatic ending, "He's still alive because it snows on Christmas. It never snowed before." This way, neither Edward nor Kim has to face the cruel choice again. The "promise" every Christmas also seems to draw a seemingly beautiful conclusion to their "impossible love."

However, when Kim's granddaughter asked why she hadn't gone to see him for so many years, Kim replied sadly, “No, sweetheart. I'm an old woman now. I would rather have him remember me the way I was.

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