Ed Harley, Tragic Hero

As I was watching Stan Winston's Pumpkinhead the other day, it occurred to me that all the elements of the story are those of a Shakespearian tragedy. Because it was released in the 80's, had a group of teens in it, and was titled Pumpkinhead, the true beauty of this film, and its subtle genius, have been overlooked.

Please keep in mind that this post is not meant to be on the level of an academic paper, it's just my observations. Also, I am writing this assuming the reader has seen the movie, so I won't be giving a scene to scene description. I do, however, give away the end, so if you haven't seen it, consider this your spoiler warning.

Elements of the Shakespearian tragedy:

1. Shakespeare's tragic hero will be a man of rank, and the events that befall him will be out of the ordinary and fatally disastrous. The hero falls unexpectedly from a high place, a place of glory or joy. He is fundamentally a good person, but will contribute to his own destruction due to a flaw in character, or because of a tragic error.

Ed Harley, our main character, is a store owner and a loving single father. He lives in the country with his young son--a life portrayed as simple, but good. When his son is accidentally killed by one in a group of teens who've come from the city, Harley goes to the old witch to invoke Pumpkinhead and take revenge.




2. That men may start a course of events but can neither calculate or control it, is a tragic fact. All of Shakespeare's tragic protagonists are capable of both good and evil. The playwright always insists on the operation of the doctrine of free will; the (anti)hero is always able to back out, to redeem himself. The hero, though he persues his fated way, is, at some point, torn by inner struggle. But, the author dictates, they must move unheedingly to their doom.

The accident occurred in Harley's absence, so he is unaware that all but one (Steve - the one responsible) of the teens are horrified and are desperately trying to get to a phone to call for help, leaving only Steve's brother behind to stay with the boy until his father returns. However, Steve, fearing jail time due to a prior offense, doesn't allow the rest of the group to call for help, going as far as to lock two of them in a closet.

Harley calls upon Pumpkinhead to take revenge. Not long after, after significant inner turmoil, he has a change of heart. He is fundamentally good and only acted irrationally out of emotion (his tragic flaw). He also realizes that it was an accident and comes to understand that the teens tried to get help, but the knowledge comes much too late. He goes to the witch and begs for it to be called off, but even she is unable to stop it...much to her delight. Steve, our antihero, steps forward to take responsibility, even offering himself to the creature, but it is of no use. It's been called to kill them all and nothing can stop it.



3. Shakespeare also introduces the supernatural - ghosts and/or witches who have supernatural knowledge. This supernatural element cannot be explained away as an illusion and contributes to the action always in close or direct relation to the hero.

As a child Harley witnessed Pumpkinhead killing a man. This is why he knows the creature is real and not just a legend or the subject of a macabre children's song.

The witch Harley goes to and Pumpkinhead himself represent the supernatural element of the Shakespearian tragedy, as neither is a dream or an illusion. The witch knows how to call the creature, and it instinctively knows who its victims are.



4.The center of the tragedy may therefore be said to lie in the actions of the main character, his flawed perceptions, and human frailty. In Shakespeare, the hero recognizes his responsibility for the catastrophe which befalls him too late to prevent his death.

Harley goes to battle Pumpkinhead himself, desperately trying to protect the teens that are still alive. He realizes that if he dies, it will die. He shoots himself, thus ending his life, and the vengeful creature's. But death does not bring his soul mercy or rest. The witch buries him, and he will serve as the next Pumpkinhead.



In addition to the whole Shakespeare bent, this film is well written and beautifully shot. The use of color and the cinematography are poetic. There are long, fluid shots that are flawless. The scenes between the witch and Harley are pure gold, and the creature is a wonderful score in the props vs. CGI contest.


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