Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands” uses a variety of different themes, ideologies and elements to compliment the gothic literature style of writing in which it is composed. The characterisation, setting and themes, portray the text as a true gothic film. Other gothic films include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe, which can be compared to Edward Scissorhands in various ways. The setting in Edward Scissorhands establishes a link to true gothic literature through the clever use of the uncanny. Uncanny is when something is uncomfortably normal and is shown by the town in which Peg and her family live. Something doesn’t seem perfectly right about the coloured houses, matching cars and shaped hedges in the film. Uncanny is also used in the text through showing various examples of Juxtaposition. The author has used Juxtaposition to exaggerate the opposites between Edward’s dark, isolated, scary looking castle and the colourful, pastel town. Another example is shown when Peg is inside Edward’s …show more content…
The characterisation used in gothic texts reveals the views on femineity and masculinity. Feminine characters are often always getting themselves into trouble and rely on the males help to save them. This is evident in Edward Scissorhands through Kim’s submissiveness towards Jim. She relies on the tyrannical male as most females do in gothic texts. In comparison to Edward Scissorhands, The Raven displays the opposite to the stereotypical ways as the main male character is grieving in dependence over the death of his partner. Nonetheless, Peg also demonstrates the stereotypical characterisation through her actions as she tries to fit in and be like all the other housewives as shown in her clothing choices and her door-to-door selling of cosmetics. Gothic texts tend to stereotype against the different genders and the characterisation in Edward Scissorhands demonstrates those