10 Theories That Help Explain The Works Of David Lynch
10. Eraserhead Is About Lynch's New Fatherhood
It's probably worth beginning with a pretty straightforward and fairly well-known theory about Lynch's work: the most common interpretation of Eraserhead's dark and confusing descent into Hell. The film revolves around Henry's (Lynch regular Jack Nance) apparent difficulties in coming to terms with settled marriage life and parenthood, and it has often been suggested that, because Lynch was going through similar experiences at the time, it is a semi-biographical narrative. This isn't a huge leap. Henry suffers immeasurably throughout Eraserhead, having to put up with the fact that every other character bar himself is clearly unhinged in some way. In fact, the other characters all feel a bit like they've been drawn from well-worn stereotypes of an awful marital existence. There's the menacingly grinning father-in-law, the sexually-driven mother-in-law, the neurotic and demanding wife, the temptingly sensual neighbour, the innocent fantasy girl that the man dreams of running off with and, most crucially, there's the incessantly crying baby. Henry's baby is a bizarre, monstrous looking creature. It has an alien appearance while also evoking images of sex cells. It is as if Henry (and, in real life, Lynch) sees his baby as something that is to be reviled and repulsed by. A little problem, caused by sexual deviance, that has come to dominate his life. Its never-ending whimpers keep him awake, driving him insane with exhaustion. All he wants is to run away with the beautiful dream-like Lady In The Radiator who squashes sperm-shaped creatures beneath her feet while dancing alluringly. The symbolism couldn't be any clearer. Of course, Lynch has denied that this interpretation is correct. He has stated outright that no-one has come close to interpreting Eraserhead accurately. It is interesting that he is so defensive of the meanings behind what is clearly his most "personal" film. Whether his denial is to be believed - or whether it even matters, given his belief in the power of audience interpretation - is a wholly different matter.
