The stereotypical suburban housewife lives in this
Florida community. In fact, Burton exaggerates each characterization,
in order to fully depict these aspects of suburban attitudes. First,
women are
trend setters. There is a need for each housewife to maintain a certain
position in the competition for new styles and modish ideas. In one
scene, for instance, one woman discovers Edward's creative skill in
trimming dogs' hair (different from shrubbery). The next scene proceeds
to show a line of women, representative of the entire neighborhood, dog
in hand, waiting to have their own pets receive a similar haircut.
Joyce, one neighborhood woman, thoroughly impressed with her puppy's
haircut, insists on having Edward cut her own frizzy mane. Once the
women observe Edward's skill in trimming women's hair (different from
dog's hair), the long line becomes one for their own hairstyle
renovation. There is very little individual decision making
in this
event, or those that follow.
The neighborhood women fully abandon their opinions, trusting blindly in
Edward's tastes and judgments to determine their "personal" styles. In this
sense,
Edward Scissorhands is accepted as the only creative, individualistic
force in the community. This lack of individuality in suburbia is also
discussed in Rob
Levindosky's analysis of the film, Edward Scissorhands. As
the plot develops, however, the women perceive his diversity as
threatening and as a sign of evil. One of the ladies, Joyce, tries to
seduce Edward. It is after his rejection that she labels him a freak.
She further outcasts him by claiming that he had attempted to rape her
while they were alone. The specific events that follow are an excellent
example of a modern-day witch hunt. Women also serve as the keepers of the
community. In a
sense, they are the inspectors who "police" the daily activities of the
individual citizens. The "grapevine" is dramatized, depicting women
rushing to the telephone to report the latest gossip to their friends.
Gossip includes any minor disruption in the normal routine of the day.
For instance, when Peg was first seen driving with Edward, the
neighborhood network communicated the news within a few minutes. The
more significant gossip would require a community meeting, located at a
certain street corner with all women present for group discussion. In
an event where action must be taken to rule whether the change is
appropriate to community standards, the group of housewives would proceed
(together) to the concerned parties. "You can't have a guest in your
house, and not have a barbecue, Peg," Joyce proclaims, as if it were an
official edict of suburbia. The status of a housewife in the community is
revealed
through
another suburbanite ritual. At the neighborhood barbecue(Mandy
Dainis) scene, women
are more than eager to hand-feed Edward a sample of their homemade party
dip. Each special-recipe dip represents a certain level of achievement
for each individual housewife. Ironically, as each woman strives for
personal distinction, the act of bringing the party dip reaffirms the
conformist ideals of suburbia.
Film Summary | Themes and Interpretations | Female Roles |
Male Roles | Diversity Averse | Final Thoughts |