Contrary to many people’s beliefs, our lives aren’t lived
alone, and the people we make personal connections with very often become an
indispensable part of our lives. Edward is a person who understands that his
life is part of something bigger, and he is thoroughly aware of the importance
of his friends as active components of who he is and what his life is like.
Understanding that the concept of ‘others’ is of paramount significance in his
life, Edward naturally is accepting towards other people, and takes them for
who they are, as everyone is special in their very own unique way.
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| Travelling with a giant would be quite the adventure |
Edward’s unassuming and open-minded quality becomes readily
apparent on his encounter with the witch. While Edward’s companions cowered
behind fences, Edward overcame his fear and approached the witch. When witch
opens the door, Edward’s expression tells us that he is scared, but he
suppresses his emotion and politely greets the witch. A normal kid would have run
away in fear, but Edward treated witch as he would have treated any other
person. Outsiders very often are hostile against others because others are
hostile against him, but when greeted as a “normal person”, as Edward has
greeted the witch, it is highly likely that they are going to open themselves
up towards a person. Such is the magic that Edward possesses, and such magic
attracts extraordinary, often neglected individuals to his side.
Edward’s magic comes into play once again when he confronts
the giant. Edward is scared just as much by the giant as he was by the witch,
but again, he remains truthfully himself towards the giant, a total outcast and
a stranger. This in return allows the giant to be himself towards Edward,
instantly creating a deep personal connection between the two.
Outcasts and outsiders in fact are just normal people who
are in desperate need for love and casual social communication. Edward’s
special ability is to provide what they need by not doing anything special, but
by simply treating them with a genuine heart and a truthful attitude.
Since Burton was isolated in his youth, I think he highlights the idea of acceptance in Big Fish. Because of his differences as a child, people were not as nice as they always could be. Burton makes it very obvious to the audience that being polite and accepting gets you places, regardless of who it may be. Edward Bloom embodies the kindness that the world should share with others. Unfortunately, there is not as much of that as there should be in the world. Burton is reminding us to treat others with respect, no matter if they are a beauty queen or a grotesque giant. He may have been considered an outcast (as you stated), but Edward Bloom finds it in his heart to accept him. When most people would hesitate or run at the sight of a "monster," but Edwards simply sees it as a chance to reach out and make a friend.
ReplyDelete-Kathleen McCurdy
The reason I am so fond of this movie is because I feel that Tim Burton presents the outsider in a different light. Typically, Burton's outsiders -- Penguin, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, and Catwoman-- have deep-rooted issues that produces dark, sullen personalities among them. In this movie, Edward was a content outsider. He was different from those in his town. He felt it was too small and that there was more out there for his life, so he set out to seek it. One example of his difference is when Edward offers to get rid of a giant from his town because the townspeople wouldn't dare interact in a pleasant manner towards the beast. Edward simply talked and reached common grounds with the giant, a special ability that he possess. This allows others to become comfortable when around Edward. He is one with an open soul; he's never judgmental towards anyone. He simply treats people how they should be treated, like humans. - Akeem Biggs
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