Grotesque: Frankenstein vs. Edward Scissorhands
Grotesque Research Paper
In literature, the word “grotesque” is used to describe an individual that appears abnormal or bizarre to the other characters. A Grotesque character induces disgust, caused by his villainous outlooks, as well as empathy, as his personality contrast his outside, in other words is very likeable and nice. Despite trying to fit in and feel normal, the society will not accept Grotesque characters, for they miss the society´s idea of what is normal to look like and act like. Furthermore, it is often just the society´s judgemental reactions that make the Grotesque character act like a monster, being a part of a self-defense mechanism. Another characteristic typical for a Grotesque character is being a Christ figure. As a result of the mistakes and sins of others, a Grotesque character is the one who is blamed and sacrificed. For all these reasons, a viewer feels sympathy for the Grotesque character. In the films, Frankenstein and Edward Scissorhands, both main characters are considered Grotesque, having both a good nature and an uninviting visage, making a viewer feel compasion as well as repulsion.
The term “grotesque” was first used to describe literary genre by Michel de Montaigne, a french writer of the French Rennaissance, for his Essays, published in the 16th century. The Grotesque is often related to satire and tragicomedy. A German writer, and 1929 Nobel Prize winner, Thomas Mann labeled it as a "genuine antibourgeois style" for it is an effective artistic way to convey grief and pain to the audience. However, grotesque happenings and monsters can be found even in some of the very first written texts. Myths offer a number of monstrous creations: one-eyed Cyclops in Hesiod 's Theogony, Homer 's Polyphemus in the Odyssey, or the hybrid creations in Ovid 's Metamorphoses. Satirical writings of the eighteenth century can provide another major source of the grotesque; to name a few, Jonathan Swift 's Gulliver 's Travels, or the works of
In literature, the word “grotesque” is used to describe an individual that appears abnormal or bizarre to the other characters. A Grotesque character induces disgust, caused by his villainous outlooks, as well as empathy, as his personality contrast his outside, in other words is very likeable and nice. Despite trying to fit in and feel normal, the society will not accept Grotesque characters, for they miss the society´s idea of what is normal to look like and act like. Furthermore, it is often just the society´s judgemental reactions that make the Grotesque character act like a monster, being a part of a self-defense mechanism. Another characteristic typical for a Grotesque character is being a Christ figure. As a result of the mistakes and sins of others, a Grotesque character is the one who is blamed and sacrificed. For all these reasons, a viewer feels sympathy for the Grotesque character. In the films, Frankenstein and Edward Scissorhands, both main characters are considered Grotesque, having both a good nature and an uninviting visage, making a viewer feel compasion as well as repulsion.
The term “grotesque” was first used to describe literary genre by Michel de Montaigne, a french writer of the French Rennaissance, for his Essays, published in the 16th century. The Grotesque is often related to satire and tragicomedy. A German writer, and 1929 Nobel Prize winner, Thomas Mann labeled it as a "genuine antibourgeois style" for it is an effective artistic way to convey grief and pain to the audience. However, grotesque happenings and monsters can be found even in some of the very first written texts. Myths offer a number of monstrous creations: one-eyed Cyclops in Hesiod 's Theogony, Homer 's Polyphemus in the Odyssey, or the hybrid creations in Ovid 's Metamorphoses. Satirical writings of the eighteenth century can provide another major source of the grotesque; to name a few, Jonathan Swift 's Gulliver 's Travels, or the works of
Citations: Burton, T. (Director) (1990). Edward scissorhands [DVD]. Whale, J. (Director) (1931). Frankenstein [DVD]. Eavan, Malone. "Grotesque Lecture." Escambia High School. Florida, Pensacola. 2012. Lecture. Author unknown. "Grotesque in Literature." Wikipedia. N.p., 10 2012. Web. 10 Dec 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grotesque>