John Merrick was the hideously deformed 19th century Londoner known as "The Elephant Man." He was from London, the place that always brought back bad memories. He proceeded to talk about how he always felt unwanted and how people wanted to rip him to pieces. When I read the book about John Merrick’s life and him getting beaten, I felt so sorry for him, but after actually seeing it acted out in the play, I felt even worse. Absolutely no one deserves to be treated that way and what he went through. The nun claimed that only Christ could save him. An emotional time for the audience was when Merrick sat alone saying he was beaten like a drum. He repeated it to himself over and over saying, “boom, boom, boom.” He described the floors as being “extremely dirty” and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
It is very clear that Merrick loved to read. Merrick had never seen the inside of a home before and Treves tried to make him feel as though he was at home. At this time, Mrs. Kendall entered the room and Merrick told her how beautiful she was and how he prepared himself for her coming but forgot every word he wanted to say. Mrs. Kendall said that Merrick’s mom was a beautiful woman. Merrick believed the reason why he had a sickness was because his mom was kicked down by an elephant at a circus when she was pregnant with him. He also felt as though his head was so big because it was filled with wonderful dreams.
Merrick discussed Romeo and Juliet with Mrs. Kendall. He said that Romeo did not truly care for Juliet and that he only cared about himself. Mrs. Kendall was confused by what he said so Merrick explained to her what he meant. He said that looking in a mirror and not saying anything was all an illusion. Mrs. Kendall took the cast off of his hand even though she knew his hand was deformed. Mrs. Kendall was the only woman that made him feel special.
Merrick built a model of St. Phillips and explained to Mrs. Kendall and Treves how he only did it with only one hand. He said that it was an imitation of grace and that he made his own imitation. Treves said that Merrick was an artist who created illusions of Heaven. Merrick said we all are copies but wanted to know how we came about to be copies. Treves explained to Merrick that God made the copies. Merrick said he felt alone and needed a mistress. He also felt as though his head was too heavy to lay down, but to lay down alone is much worse. Merrick told Treves he never seen a naked woman before and his sister Eva told him that he needed to put such things out of his head.
Ross walked into the room and asked Merrick if she could have five percent of the money and Merrick answered her by saying she was wasting his time. I could feel the pain in Merrick’s voice when he reminded Ross that she treated him like an animal and left him there to die. Treves asked Merrick if he believed in Heaven or Christ. Merrick said he believed in Heaven and that the Bible promised that the crooked would be made straight. This gave him hope that someday in the future he would be normal just like everyone else.
After reading the book as an assignment for my poetry class and then seeing the play, I definitely understand the connection of the two activities and what the author is trying to convey to the audience. Discussing different aspects of the story in class helped me to prepare for what I was about to see in the theatre. I was excited to see the play and could actually visualize the characters. Sometimes seeing people act out a play makes it much easier for the mind to comprehend the story.
Overall, I feel like this story teaches the audience a valuable lesson. We should always be grateful and appreciate life and never take anything for granted. John Merrick was an incredible guy who had an inspiring story. Although he had a terrible disease, he tried to make the best out of his life. Merrick was still treated like a “freak” and he will forever be a prisoner of his own malformed body.
5 comments:
I loved that you talk about Merrick's talking about illusions. I know when I saw the play, I walked away from it with the word illusions in my head. I think everyone in Merrick's life, except Mrs. Kendall, really got fooled by the illusions they created rather than looking for the truth. I agree this story really does teach a valuable lesson and really makes an impression on the audience.
I really liked your ending paragraph to this post. I feel that this story teaches the audience a lesson as well -- treat others the way you want to be treated. Merrick was a very intelligent person, who had to battle through hardships all throughout his life just because of the way he looked. We should never "judge a book by its cover." What I mean by this is never allow someone's "looks" effect the way you think or act around them. Merrick only had a few friends who knew he was intelligent; others just viewed him as a science project or just felt sorry for him and never truly listened to what he had to say.
I think this story shows the way many people with different thing about them get looked at by the quote "normal people." Merrick had always known that he was given the short end of the stick in life. At one point in the play, he laments, “My head is so enormous because it is filled with dreams that cannot get out”. The desire to be something more in life is what motivates the Elephant Man in this play. Merrick hopes that if he completes the church model, the dreams in his big head may finally get out. Such a simplistic approach towards life is the defining attribute in the play. As aforementioned, this play may lack the glitz and glamour but its simplistic yet captivating plot leaves an indelible mark on the audience.
I agree with you Sarah espically your last part which talked about even Merrick has terrible diease, he still struggle for his life and try tou get out. and also, i think this play also teaches us how to treat people and how to thanks our life.
Your last paragraph again was very good. Merrick had no control over anything that happened to him, yet he was treated like a side show act by everybody. Its such a shame that he was because he just wanted to be like a normal person.
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