Edward Scissorhands Connected With To Kill A Mockingbird

Stage 1 English Specialist

Mrs Brindal, 2007

Jacqueline Bonsell, 1101

Word Count: 1,397

Compare the ways in which the authors of two texts explore how society treats people who are different.

The texts Edward Scissorhands - directed by Tim Burton - and To Kill a Mockingbird - a controversial novel written by Harper Lee - both explore the ways in which society treats people who are not like them whether it is because they look or act different. Both texts demonstrate how a misunderstood character can be quickly judged through his actions and appearance. Whilst the two texts focus mainly on appearance as an explanation for the way the characters are treated, they also illustrate the death of innocence through critical eyes. Harper Lee and Tim Burton use characters in their stories to represent their own experiences during childhood. Harper Lee has acknowledged that Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, who serves as the novel’s narrator, is based on herself, just as Tim Burton uses Edward Scissorhands to reflect his emotions of isolation as a child. Using character contrast and symbolism, the authors are able to express how people who are different do not receive the recognition they deserve.

The stereotypical society of вЂ?white America’, in both texts, is quick to judge people who are unlike them. This results in harsh treatment, particularly of those whose physical appearance is extremely different to the rest of society. In Edward Scissorhands, this is shown when Peg brings Edward home for the first time and is anxious that this вЂ?pale man for scissors as hands’ might be judged, when in fact, Edward’s presence is kindly вЂ?welcomed’ by her neighbours. Harper Lee chooses to express society’s critical eye by not even mentioning Tom Robinson until he is accused of rape for the simple reason that he is of a different colour to the rest of society. With Atticus defending his innocence, his children, Scout and Jim are often referred to as “nigger-lovers”. Whilst Burton shows this through visual techniques, Lee provides us with a description through dialogue of what Tom Robinson looks like and how the children are scrutinised because of their father. The severity of treatment towards these characters enhances the argument that societies treat people who are dissimilar in a completely different way.

One of the main messages in both texts is that society treats people who are different, but they also both illustrate the death of innocence through critical eyes. Societies tend to �judge a book by its cover’, such as with Edward and Tom but as soon as they become of use to them, they are magnetised. In To Kill a Mockingbird, this is evident when the honest story of what occurred at Mayella Ewell’s house is described, by Tom Robinson. Despite the significant evidence pointing to Tom’s innocence, he is convicted. The fact that Mayella persuaded Tom to do something for her so she could seduce him is disregarded. Tim Burton uses a similar storyline, when Joyce, the well-known promiscuous woman of the town, finds Edward’s �scissors’ useful for the opening of her hair salon. She introduces Edward to the proposed site and after Edward refuses her seductiveness, she accuses him of sexually assaulting her. Unfortunately, it is Edward’s say against Joyce’s, just as it is Mayella’s and her father’s word against Tom’s. Sadly, because of Tom and Edward’s appearance, their innocence is vanished within the community.

This clearly depicts the idea of what Atticus states, “Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can’t hit вЂ?em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” The thought that in both of these texts, Tom and Edward can be referred to as the Mockingbirds of the stories, clearly demonstrates the innocence destroyed by carelessness or deliberation. Edward and Tom do nothing but help the community when their abilities are required. Just as “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.” The mockingbird theme is used throughout Lee’s novel to symbolise the innocence of various victims of injustice but it can also be used in Burton’s film. Using Edward as the mockingbird, all his intentions are is to satisfy his loved ones, preferably Kim but when he is arrested due to a failed robbery attempt which was set up by Kim’s boyfriend, Edward is almost entirely loathed by everyone except for the Boggs family. This incident clearly illustrates how society welcomes only those they can take advantage of, and once proven un-useful, they are condemned for life.

In Edward Scissorhands, each of the characters have their own persona, just as the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird do. Peg and Atticus both have similar personalities concerning the main characters of the stories. When Peg firsts sees Edward, although at first, she is scared

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