Loss Of Innocence In Big Fish By Tim Burton

Throughout human life, people experience many events which lead them to mature and come in contact with the grim realities of growing up. In the film Big Fish by Tim Burton, the characters recognize that the end of childhood comes with many responsibilities and the tragedy of this reality is unavoidable. The film guides us through the loss of innocence within the characters lives through the new experiences encounter, the movement from rosey to a greyer outlook on life and by the realization of an unconceived truth. Throughout the film, the audience is lead through the loss of innocence by many new experiences the characters face. Young Edward Bloom undergoes a new experience when he first meets Sandra; this experience being his first love.

As a young child, Will be leaves all the tales his father tells him, however as he grows older and becomes aware that they are only fables, his outlook on life becomes harsher as he realizes how little he really knows about his father. Will expresses this to his father when he says, “dad, I have no idea who you are because you have never told me a single fact.” This shows how Will’s outlook on life passes from a childish rosy perspective to mature greyer view, as his father's stories become a shattered illusion and Will’s childlike innocence is lost. This characteristic is also seen within Edward’s stories. When on his way to the city, Edward comes across the beautiful, almost magical town of Spectre. However, he leaves only to return years later and discover the town is completely rundown, lacking it's old spirit. At first Edward describes the town as “more than any man could ask for;” But when he leaves, the town faces many hardships as the outside world brings banks, liens and debt to the little town. As the town becomes exposed to the world outside of Spectre, it's rosey spirit turns grey as it becomes infected with the problems and responsibilities of the real world and loses its former innocence. The representations of how rosey visions turn to grey throughout the course of the film, help convey the message that growing up comes with many responsibilities and this rough actuality is