Reisz Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd & Mrs. Lovett

The emotion behind Sweeney Todd and his overall motivation leads viewers to sympathize with him, despite the cannibalism throughout the film. Burton overcomes the cannibalism by relating to Sweeney as an outsider and makes that relatable to the audience as well. Sweeney Todd has his wife unjustly taken from him then is banished from London to Tasmania. This banishment strips Todd of what the rest of society has rights to and turns him into an outsider. The horrors and grief that Todd goes through gives him a motivation that audiences can sympathize with despite the cannibalism. Since society striped him of his rights, he devours them and takes away their rights to life. The mixture gothic fantasy and musicals also eases viewers into the fact that citizens are actually eating their fellow Londoners. Mrs. Lovett first introduces the idea while rolling dough and clattering in the kitchen in an upbeat musical way.

However, Burton also conveys man’s natural fears and cannibalism in relation to the urban growth in London. With the growth of urbanization, the world becomes more cut throat, especially with businesses. Mrs. Lovett cleverly comes up with an idea that helps Sweeney Todd, who she secretly desires, and save her business. She takes the idea of cannibalism in a metaphoric and literal sense as she devours other businesses by using “free meat” and shares literal cannibalism to every citizen through her pies. The fact that citizens enjoy her pies so much alludes to the fact that man enjoys devouring one another as part of our natural instinct. Although this cannibalistic nature is very primitive, it actually increases with man’s rapid industrialization. Despite whatever corruption or social reforms are presented, the bestial notion of cannibalism remains throughout the film. In the courts Judge Turpin devours those who are weaker than him because he has the power to do so. Mrs. Lovett devours other businesses through literal cannibalism and devours her competition, Sweeney Todd’s wife, by telling misleading stories to get what she wants. The constant presentation of cannibalism alludes to the idea that humans cannot hide from our natural fears or primitive natures. If we apply this idea to all “civilized” growth in society, we may reveal a darker nature that is as natural as ever to us today.