The Elephant Man written by David Lynch was such an interesting play to read. Many people viewed the Elephant Man as a freak of nature. People would stare at his deformities for hours. At first, that’s all Merrick really was, a freak show, but as the play went on, Treves seemed to become a “hero” to Merrick. When I say “hero,” I mean by this – Treves gave Merrick, well tried to give Merrick, a normal life to live. Question has it, though, did Treves give Merrick a real normal life, or was he using Merrick for science and his personal interests? Different people have different opinions on Treves’ actions in the play.
I personally feel as if Treves did a little bit of both: He helped Merrick to the best of his ability and understanding when it came to giving Merrick a normal life to live, but I also feel as if Treves was interested in how the Elephant Man would react and respond in different situations. Treves wanted to allow the Elephant Man to feel normal, but he still seemed to have control over Merrick. For example, when Mrs. Kendal exposed her naked body to Merrick, Treves made her leave immediately, and banned her from seeing Merrick again. In normal life, Merrick is a grown man, and Mrs. Kendal didn’t actually do anything wrong, so I think it was not Treves responsibility to have made such a decision.
I found this play to be sad in several ways as well. Merrick has to battle his whole life with these horrible deformities, and no matter what, he will always be known as the Elephant Man. His parents disowned him when he was a small child, and he never actually has a real “home” other than the hospital Treves tells him to call home. Merrick isn’t even able to sleep like a normal human being, and at the end, he dies because of his deformities. Merrick, though, goes through life being bright and cheerful as often as he can be. He enjoys his visitors that Treves allows to come, and Merrick is actually a very intelligent person. Merrick has an awesome personality that many people cannot see just because of the way he looks.
Even with all the ups and downs Merrick went through in life, like I mentioned earlier, he still was able to maintain a positive attitude. He tried not to let his deformities come in between his old “freak show” life and his now normal life. I know I wouldn’t have been able to keep such a positive attitude, and truthfully, I ask myself – Would I be a person who would say nothing and just stare at the Elephant Man’s deformed body? Or would look past his deformities, and get to know his true personality? Of course, I would automatically state that his deformities wouldn’t amaze me, but how can I know for sure without ever seeing such a person like the Elephant Man? This is another reason why I believe Treves wanted to help the Elephant Man, but he also was amazed by him and used him for science.
5 comments:
I have to admit that i like your honestly and that I to do not know what I would do. I would hope that i could look beyond his deformity and see him for the true self, but would I? many people are not that honest to know and would just say that the could and end the thoughts there. Thank you for being so honest about yourself.
I agree that Treves kind of used Merrick as well. He used him in a different way than Ross, but he still used him for his own good. I also found this play very sad and to think that people still react this way today. I think having vistors that were happy to see him in the hospital was the only thing that kept him happy or made it different than traveling with the circus. I really enjoyed reading your outlook on the play!
This play showed the importance in accepting who you are no matter what you look like. I like how you mention "he maintains a positive attitude" even though he has a hard life. He is just another human being that wants to be treated like a normal person.
i agree with you when you said Treaves may just treat Merrick good just because of his own benefit. there are alway two a kind of person that they looks good, dressed up everday, their hearts is twisted deformed, and another kind of people they struggle in life and they may have disease or disabilities, but their heart is good such as Merrick, he just wants to be a normally person and have the normaly life.
I agree with a lot of the things you say about how Treves tried to give Merrick a normal life, but at the same time it kind of seemed as if he was using him for scientific research. Treves did do a lot of good for Merrick though, even if he did make his decisions for him and tell him what and what not to do, he still gave him a place to call home. Of course he was still known of as the freak even when in the hospital, but who be wouldn't with abnormities like the ones he had. Good observations though.
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