The Prototype of the Elephant Man - Essay Example

The person who inspired the play and the film The Elephant Man was a true-to-life curiosity, if not considered as a monstrosity by others, during thelate Victorian age. Joseph Merrick eventually was exhibited as a sideshow until he was rescued by Dr. Frederick Treves. Treves described his patient as "deformed in body, face, head and limbs. His skin, thick and pendulous hung in folds and resembled the hide of an elephant-hence his show name" (Howell & Ford, 1980). Merrick suffered from a rare disease called Neurofibromatosis or Proteus Syndrome. However, the name Elephant Man was mistakenly given as his sobriquet because many thought that he was afflicted with elephantiasis. Born in England in 1862, it became apparent that there was something wrong with him while he was still a toddler. It was during this early stage in his life that disfiguring tumors began to emerge on his face. The Life of Joseph Merrick It was Merrick's belief that his deformity was caused by his mother's having been frightened by an elephant. Even this notion was quite ludicrous for Victorian England, but Merrick stuck to this belief since he was unable to receive ample quality education. His mother died when Merrick was 10 and his stepmother, unable to cope with the child's growing deformity, convinced her husband to throw the boy into the streets. And so at a young age, Merrick had his first taste of human cruelty and became a street urchin. Merrick was peddling shoe polish by the time he was 12 years old. Still living on the streets, he was not only exposed to the elements but was also subject to regular taunting, bullying and even persecution. He afterwards became a ward of the state and was forced to work in a welfare sweatshop. Merrick's face and also his body were covered with lumpy growths and tumors. The tumors were also made up of hard bone. An attempt was made to cut away the excess growths but this ended in failure. Merrick's deformity grew through time. People stared and gaped at Merrick wherever he went. Thus, Merrick decided that if they have to look, they might as well pay for it and so he began his career as a sideshow freak (Kayser 1966). Merrick remained in the London Hospital until he died mysteriously of suffocation. In a way, he became a sport of pet monster for the upper-class Victorians. His presence took away their fear of the strange and unusual. The Nature of Joseph Merrick Merrick wrote a short autobiography wherein he stated that his experiences as a sideshow freak was not hurtful. He said that he was treated with the "greatest kindness." In contrast, he wrote, it was real life that proved to be hurtful (Daily Chronicle 1890). Although brutally exploited as a sideshow freak, Merrick showed his gentleness even among those who persecuted him. He was eventually able to read widely, learned the arts, visited beautiful places and entertained royalty. As Lady Geraldine Somerset described his gentle nature and circumstance, "such a gentle, kindly man, poor thing!" (Howell & Ford, 1980). Although his physical appearance elicited shudders from the public, his genuinely sterling character made him the perfect fairy tale monstrosity. Merrick was a very ill man and his condition worsened through time. The pain became more pronounced and crippling as the disease advanced. He would spend hours sitting and staring into emptiness, seemingly despondent as he tapped the fingers of his disfigured right hand on the arm of his chair or a pillow. Despite his despondent state, Merrick gave hope to his well-wishers reiterating that the world they live in is a good one. He also expressed his gratitude to those who called on him: "Tis true my form is something odd, But blaming me is blaming God; Could I create myself anew I would not fail in pleasing you. "If I could reach from pole to pole Or grasp the ocean with a span, I would be measured by the soul; The mind's the standard of the man." (Howard & Ford, 189) In the first verse, Merrick accepts his oddity. But he also does not cast any blame on himself nor anyone else. His was full acceptance of his condition and his fate. He explains clearly as he states "But blaming me is blaming God" accepting what his Creator has destined him to be. It shows his psychological outlook, refusing to question his predicament by not allowing blame upon himself. He also expressed his willingness to give fulfillment to people by writing, "Could I create myself anew I would not fail in pleasing you." The second verse written above appeared on handbills which were distributed in the freak shows where he was exhibited. He gave emphasis on his good nature, ""If I could reach from pole to pole Or grasp the ocean with a span, I would be measured by the soul" He further emphasizes that character is how society measures a man and not by his physical appearance. Both verses reflect Merrick's state of mind and attitude. The first verse shows his acceptance of his lot. This verse also shows that he neither has himself nor God to blame for his condition and circumstance. He also does not cast blame on his benefactors but instead expresses his unbound gratitude to them. Merrick's death was sudden and it was believed that the cause was asphyxiation due to the weight of his huge and heavy head. His head was so huge that he had to sleep sitting up and assuming a fetal position, with his knees supporting the weight of his cranium. Though his gentleness and acceptance of his lot gives stark contrast to his physical attributes, his sudden death gave rise to speculations that he may have taken on a bleaker outlook and had taken his own life. This idea was also implied by Treves in 1926 three decades after Merrick's death, in the pamphlet "The Elephant Man": He often said to me that he wished he could lie down to sleep "like other people." I think on this last night he must, with some determination, have made the experiment. The pillow was soft, and the head, when placed on it, must have fallen back-wards and caused a dislocation of the neck. Thus it came about that his death was due to the desire that had dominated his life -- the pathetic but hopeless desire to be "like other people. (Howard & Ford, 1980). Perhaps, it was Merrick's strong desire to sleep lying down, to be as normal as he could possibly manage himself to be. No one knows whether Merrick decided to kill himself or was it merely an attempt to gain a small measure of normalcy in his overly unusual existence. Joseph Merrick died on April 11, 1890. He was only 27. Merrick for Contemporary Times The public had always been captivated by characters which were different from the norm and yet exhibited virtuous qualities. This is why literary figures such as the Beast in "beauty and the Beast", the ogre "Shrek" and many others, have become timeless elements in popular culture. The message of beauty within the person harks from biblical times and the timeless advice: Do not judge a book by its cover. Writer and director David Lynch said that, "The story of the Elephant Man was about someone who was a monster on the outside but who inside was a beautiful and normal human being you fell in love with. He was a monster who wasn't really a monster. I like human conditions that are distorted. It makes the undistorted stand out. I like psychological twists, too." He added, "I think everybody feels a bit like an outsider. Also I think everybody hides many things inside them." People are often wary of the strange or unknown. They are cautious of those that are different. Their fears are often translated into actions and behavior that may be hurtful to those who manifest strangeness or difference. Such were the reactions of people to the Elephant Man. They found him to be unusual. He was there in their presence and yet he was someone or "something" they could not quite understand or comprehend. He was a curiosity to stare and gape at. Perhaps, they also forget that in front of them was also a fellow human being. Even to this day, many misunderstand the Elephant Man and his life. David Lynch's film gave rise to many misconceptions about Merrick's life. In the movie, Merrick was depicted as a lost soul who was abused by exploiters in the side shows he appeared in. He was shown as a someone whose dignity was trampled upon if not totally taken away, forcing him to declare "I am not an animal! I am a human being!" The movie's depiction was far more exaggerated than the abuses actually experienced by Merrick in life. In his autobiography, Merrick attests that his being a sideshow freak went very well and was only spoiled when a crooked promoter in Belgium stole his savings. Without money and in poor health, Merrick had to return to England. He was also depicted in the movie as unable to communicate. Although in real life, he found it difficult to speak, he was quite adept at writing as could be attested by his writings. The movie also portrayed the circus owner as a drunk who found satisfaction in bullying him. On the contrary, the particular person was considered by Merrick as a close friend in real life. Even his first name was depicted as John, which was a mistake that had already been addressed since his times. It is important to note these misconceptions brought about by contemporary portrayals because it reflects the unchanging nature of society regardless of period or age. Thus, it remains that the Elephant Man is misunderstood. However, the message he has conveyed in life, literature and film remain the same. The true measure of a man can be found in his heart. Merrick's message for all time The Bible reminds everyone not to judge a book by its cover. Likewise, sages of past and present remind us that no one has a monopoly on virtue. These two tenets are apt to place emphasis in the substance of the Elephant Man's existence. "Do not judge a book by its cover," is the timeless lesson brought forth by the Holy Scripture. The application of this tenet to the Elephant Man is quite literal. Physically, his appearance was a monstrosity - covered with growths and tumors, disfigured beyond anything recognizable as possessing a human face - his was a frightful sight. Though this may be the case, Merrick in contrast, possessed an enviable nature filled with gratitude, gentleness and kindness towards his fellowmen. And his exceptional and enviable character is further amplified by the fact that he is able to reach out and make his gentleness and caring felt despite his sordid experiences at being taunted, ostracized, abused and persecuted. His existence proves that virtue is not the monopoly of a few. Abhorrent even spiteful to look at, Merrick took it upon himself to show to others the goodness he saw in the world. He took it upon himself to provide assurance to the normal people who call on him that their world is good despite the harsh blows that real life has dealt to him. Joseph Merrick's message to the world is timeless, and we continue to teach our children and generations to come these valuable lessons as our fathers have taught us. Unknowingly, a human being whom we saw as a monstrosity lived these messages to the fullest that he could. Bibliography Howell, Michael and Ford, Peter. The True History ofthe Elephant Man Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1980. Kayser, Wolfgang. The Grotesque in Art and Literature New York: McGraw Hill, 1966. Daily Chronicle, 30 June 1890 Punch, 19 July 1890 Read More