The elephant man essay

The elephant man essay

The Elephant Man Essay,Related Essays

WebThe Elephant Man is about Merrick’s humanity and his quest to define himself as a man within society after spending much of his life as an outcast. Joseph Merrick’s condition WebJan 22,  · The film presents a subtle and sensitive portrayal of a man excised from the rest of society, attempting to live life as a man but still having to deal with prejudices and WebJul 10,  · David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man” begins with its lead character being treated little better than an animal in a cage. But it soon finds a clean-cut hero in the WebThe ‘Elephant Man’s, bare-chested, bare legged, lopsided, hunched shoulders and twisted mouth is dramatic yet non-distracting. M. Rowan Meyer is poignantand without pride WebThe Elephant Man, an intriguing book that captures the heart of the spirit, is the story of a simple, yet unfortunate, man. It causes one to think about life&#;s precious ... read more

The freakshow was thus an important economic resource for working people whose deformities prevented them undertaking other forms of labor. Indeed, freak performers did not consider their exhibitions to be obscene or degrading. Rather, they saw themselves as little different from other entertainers. Merrick suffered grievously from a rare disfiguring disease. His limbs were severely enlarged, and his massive head sprouted a large bony lump. His skin was loose and hung in sack-like masses from his back. During the two years he was on display in Europe, he was able to save more than £50—a sizable sum for a working-class man. In fact, Merrick earned more from his exhibition than his manager. They shared the take evenly, but Norman paid for the rent of the venue, food, and lodging.

This was no surprise. The Victorian workhouse was the place of last resort. Poor food, squalid living conditions, and the penal atmosphere were all intended to discourage the poor from being a burden on the state. Indeed, most working-class people sought desperately to avoid the physical hardships and social stigma of the workhouse. But two years later, he returned to the East End of London destitute, having been robbed of his savings by an unscrupulous showman. Treves had exhibited the Elephant Man to the Pathological Society in as a puzzling medical specimen and had given him his business card. When Merrick produced the card on arrival at Liverpool Street station, the police summoned the surgeon to intervene on his behalf. Motivated by scientific curiosity and compassion, Treves admitted Merrick to the London Hospital.

In the hospital, Merrick was kept largely confined to his rooms. When he ventured too far outside them, he was quickly shepherded back, lest he frighten other patients. Treves said his intention in providing for Merrick was to save him from the humiliation of public exhibition. However, his charge was constantly visited by curious members of high society. Merrick never returned to the show world. Instead, he lived out his days in renovated basement rooms at the London Hospital, where he was found dead, lying across his bed, at pm on April 11 Although no foul play was suspected, the coroner felt it prudent to hold an inquest.

He concluded that Merrick had died of natural causes—that the weight of his head overcame him during sleep and caused suffocation. Treves supported this interpretation. He believed the Elephant Man had taken his own life. Suicide does seem a much more plausible explanation. He acts as though fate was cruel to him and that no one else should even attempt to be ambitious in their lives. This is an overreaching conclusion on his part because ambition in healthy doses is not what led to his demise, it was his obsession with pushing scientific boundaries and becoming a god at any cost. It was his ego and narcissism which doomed him to continue making the same…. Home Flashcards Create Flashcards Essays Essay Topics Language and Plagiarism Checks.

Essays Essays FlashCards. Sign in. Flashcard Dashboard Essay Dashboard Essay Settings Sign Out. Home Page The Elephant Man Analysis. The Elephant Man Analysis Improved Essays. Open Document. Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. Show More. Related Documents Improved Essays. Symbolism And Humanity In George Orwell's Words 6 Pages. Symbolism And Humanity In George Orwell's Improved Essays. Read More. Analysis Of Okonkwo's Suicide In Things Fall Apart Words 5 Pages. Analysis Of Okonkwo's Suicide In Things Fall Apart. The Suffering Pastor Analysis Words 5 Pages. The Suffering Pastor Analysis. The Theme Of Isolation In Frankenstein Words 4 Pages. The Theme Of Isolation In Frankenstein. The Oppression Of Women In Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper Words 4 Pages.

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We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it. Buy now, save instantly, get the job done on time! Type of paper: Essay. Topic: Literature , Elephant , Film , Human , Character , Death , Life , Cinema. Pages: 4. Words: The film The Elephant Man is an iconic and powerful humanistic filmmaking endeavor from one of the most interesting directors of the 20th century. Based on the true story of Joseph Carey Merrick, the film depicts a man with severe deformities experiencing life as a human sideshow in 19th century London, and his attempts to find peace and solace amongst the curiosity of man. Director David Lynch forces the horrors and sadness of deformity onto the audience in a way that leaves the viewer tear choked with sadness and sympathy.

Most people who watch the film are touched in a way that alters their view of the crippled, weak, and deformed persons of the world, while showing his plight as being uniquely horrific. The film presents a subtle and sensitive portrayal of a man excised from the rest of society, attempting to live life as a man but still having to deal with prejudices and the lack of understanding of other human beings. As far as historical accuracy is concerned, details have been altered to make the story more palatable for film. Lynch in an effort to maintain realism changes the name purposely but fails to make this understandable to the viewer.

Beyond this change, many elements within the film are based in history, including his state of dress wearing a hood and cloak when he travelled , his relationship and adoration for his mother, and his cardboard construction of a cathedral. Perhaps most central to the film is John Hurt's amazing, sensitive performance as John Merrick. Despite being forced to emote through layers of makeup and prosthetics modeled after Merrick's real face and appearance , Hurt manages to convey a depth of emotion that few actors could accomplish, finding beauty in this beastly figure. The character is played as that of a child, one who does not quite understand the world around him, if only because he has not really been exposed to any parts that did not contain cruelty. Lynch shows Hurt being victimized by Victorian society, but also abandoned like a child; numerous closeups of children are show, and Princess Alexandra describes him as "one of England's most unfortunate sons.

Since no one was with Merrick when he died, Lynch's ending is purely based in fantasy, but makes a compelling scene nonetheless. Lynch divines a hypothetical death in which Merrick lies down like a normal person, which because of his abnormalities, causes his death. Merrick was found lying down in this manner when he was discovered the next day. Because of the peaceful state of his body it is supposed that he chose his death in this manner. Lynch stays true to at least what is known and believed. Lynch also gives a final grace and dignity to the character of John Merrick which allows the film to end in a way that is touchingly appropriate.

In this way, we are oddly relieved for Merrick, as he had endured so much suffering and pain that it seemed fitting that he would die trying to be normal. In his death, we see him try to lie like a drawing of a sleeping child from his room, yet another tie to Merrick as a childlike figure. The supporting cast deliver spot on performance that give validity and weight to the human drama at the heart of The Elephant Man. Of great note is Anthony Hopkins as Treves, one of the few true allies Merrick has along his journey. Michael Elphick's performance as a night porter is chilling, particularly in one scene where he plans to humiliate Merrick in his hospital room by showing him naked and charging admission.

Perhaps the most challenging and famous line is the scene when Merrick the tragic hero demands that everyone acknowledge that he is human. In the famous subway scene, Merrick is chased by crowds of people, viewing him as a freak. I am not an animal! I am a human being! Iama man! Expertly directed, written, and performed, with an old style cinematography and orchestral score, the film can be seen as a return to the days of black white film. Victorian cultural superiority is thrown into question, as the high-class sophistication of the aristocrats is shown up by Merrick's raw, basic empathy and humanity. The emphasis on character and acting skill was an original move by Lynch during a time when special effects and color were taking the lead in cinematography.

In fact, when one views the movie, he or she comes away with the idea that it could not have been filmed any other way. One of Lynch's decidedly less surrealist films like Blue Velvet or Eraserhead , Lynch still manages to examine the macabre subject of a real-life freakshow, who becomes the most human character in the film. It is because of this sensitive, nuanced portrayal of disability and human cruelty that Lynch's film remains one of the great film dramas of the 20th century. Clark, R. The elephant man. Retrieved from Movie. Note: this sample is kindly provided by a student like you, use it only as a guidance. ID Password recovery email has been sent to email email. Don't waste time. I agree. HIRE A WRITER Sign in. World of Writing Hub Blog Free Essay Writing Tools Quizzes and Tests Essay Topics Types of Essays Free Essay Examples.

Who We Are Contact Us Our Writers Our Guarantees FAQ Honor Code WowEssays Reviews Our Services. ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS. English Introduction To Film The film The Elephant Man is an iconic and powerful humanistic filmmaking endeavor from one of the most interesting directors of the 20th century. References Clark, R. Cite this page Choose cite format: APA MLA Harvard Vancouver Chicago ASA IEEE AMA. Accessed 07 February Example Of The Elephant Man Essay. January Accessed February 07, Retrieved February 07, com, Jan Free Essay Examples - WowEssays.

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WebThis film has a moving storyline about a man's struggle to fit in and to be classified as "normal" in society. The Elephant Man is however, a tale of the growth of a sentimental WebThe Elephant Man, an intriguing book that captures the heart of the spirit, is the story of a simple, yet unfortunate, man. It causes one to think about life&#;s precious WebThe ‘Elephant Man’s, bare-chested, bare legged, lopsided, hunched shoulders and twisted mouth is dramatic yet non-distracting. M. Rowan Meyer is poignantand without pride WebThe Elephant Man is about Merrick’s humanity and his quest to define himself as a man within society after spending much of his life as an outcast. Joseph Merrick’s condition WebJul 10,  · David Lynch’s “The Elephant Man” begins with its lead character being treated little better than an animal in a cage. But it soon finds a clean-cut hero in the WebThe Elephant Man3 Pages Words. John Merrick, also known as "the elephant man", was a person who was born as an outcast of society. Born with a terrible condition, called ... read more

This choice is one of the many elements of the play that point to the influence of playwright and theater artist Bertolt Brecht. The man portrays. Merrick left school at 13 to get a job, but the increasing debilitation due to his illness affected his ability to work. The play has also been adapted for television and radio and has had two prominent Broadway revivals. Email Please enter a valid email.

Pages: 5. This choice is one of the many elements of the play that point to the influence of playwright and theater artist Bertolt Brecht. Academic level High school Undergraduate Bachelor Professional. The elephant man essay starts to slip into a metal fall. Submit Your Paper. While writing his story, Montagu made a point of using photographic words to set up the scene he wanted to describe.