The Elephant Man, directed by David Lynch, is a black and white film that is loosely based on the life of John (Joseph) Merrick. The film depicts how scientific, industrial, and technological advancements and indifference from the public interact with the extraordinary and unexplainable. John Merrick, played by John Hurt, was discovered living with a traveling freak show. When Dr. Treves, portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins, examines Merrick, it is revealed that he has been subjected to abuse and starvation as if he were an animal.
Merrick's severe deformity offers professional recognition and acclaim to Dr. Treves. After witnessing the mistreatment of the elephant man, the doctor takes on the responsibility of his treatment and gets to know John Merrick. Through their daily interactions, Dr. Treves realizes that Merrick is much more than ju
...st a spectacle for show; he is a highly intelligent and knowledgeable individual. As Dr. Treves strives to make a name for himself in both his professional and personal life, he becomes deeply affected by Merrick's experience as a human being. Merrick's happiness and acceptance within London society and the human race play a crucial role in his treatment.
The film portrays the introduction of Merrick in deplorable living conditions. For the first thirty minutes, the director presents Merrick as a monstrous being. As the property of Mr. Bytes, the proprietor of a human freak show, Merrick leads an existence akin to that of an animal. Yet, after Dr. Treves brings the elephant man to the hospital, he is given a room to reside in. Nonetheless, he continues to be treated like a test subject. Dr. Treves' initial objective is to examine this peculiar
human and his act of showcasing Merrick during a lecture to a medical society is just as heartless as Bytes exploiting him as a freak exhibit.
Although Treves may employ the objective language typical of a scientist, his medical explanations of Merrick are equally damaging as Bytes' description of him as "the horrible Elephant Man." While Bytes portrays Merrick as a grotesque marvel, Treves describes him as a natural anomaly that requires scientific comprehension. Both individuals fail to recognize Merrick's humanity. Consequently, neither man demonstrates concern for Merrick's personal well-being and development, disregarding any potential for his education or intellectual growth.
Both men disregard Merrick's potential contributions to Victorian society beyond being displayed in public, whether it be in a cage, on stage as a carnival freak show attraction, or in a hospital room where he is examined by doctors and hospital administrators. Treves realizes that he too is treating Merrick as an object of spectacle when the head nurse, Ms. Mothershead, emotionally shares her thoughts about the many people who have been allowed to have tea with Merrick. Ms. Mothershead succinctly expresses her concerns to Treves, stating that Merrick is once again being subjected to staring and scrutiny.
Regardless of whether he is in a circus cage or a well-appointed hospital room, those who come to see Merrick are not interested in him as a person, but rather in his monstrous body. Although Merrick is living amongst people in a hospital room, it feels as though he is mingling with London society, demonstrating his manners and knowledge, much like performing tricks for the wealthy. Thanks to various reasons ranging from the kind-heartedness of nurse Nora to matron
Ms. Mothershead's sense of duty, Merrick quickly adapts to the manners of the society he can only be part of indirectly.
In a conversation with Ms. Mothershead, she confesses to Treves that she and her nurses also initially viewed Merrick as an anomaly of nature. However, through their daily care and interactions with him, they have developed feelings of care and even love for him as an individual. In this moment, Treves recognizes that he is no better than Bytes and has also used Merrick for personal gain, perhaps not primarily for financial reasons but certainly for professional purposes. This realization prompts a shift in Treves' perception of Merrick. He now comprehends that Merrick possesses immense knowledge and has essential human needs.
Treves starts to realize his own humanity and gradually starts to show his newfound self. In an effort to assist Merrick in integrating into the London society, Treves includes Merrick in his personal life. He invites Merrick to his house to meet his wife and have afternoon tea, a common practice among "civilized" individuals at the time. Merrick is deeply moved by this gesture of hospitality. When Mrs. Treves becomes overcome with emotion and sympathizes with Merrick's life, Dr. Treves once more witnesses Merrick's boundless kindness and forgiveness.
Perhaps Treves comes to the realization that Merrick, despite his physical deformities and unique appearance, possesses a greater depth of human emotion and displays more compassionate behavior than Treves himself or anyone else he has encountered. Despite being labeled as "the most degraded form of a human being," Merrick continues to maintain a positive perspective on London society. However, when the night porter repeatedly brings strangers to view
Merrick's abnormal appearance, he once again becomes the object of a freak show. Paying tourists view Merrick through a window and subject him to violent harassment.
Bytes brings Merrick back to the hospital, referring to him as his "discovery" and his "treasure". The Doctor and hospital staff feel regretful and anxious about Merrick's disappearance and hope for his return. Treves now regrets his actions that contributed to Merrick being dehumanized. Unlike Bytes, who cruelly abuses Merrick despite calling him his "treasure", Treves gradually starts seeing Merrick as a human being above all else. This shift occurs when Treves recognizes Merrick's intelligence and ability to express emotions, even though Merrick tragically cannot smile.
Treves has a realization that Merrick is not just another human freak of nature, but a man who deserves hospitality, respect, and genuine care. When Merrick is found and brought back to the hospital, Treves is relieved and treats him as a friend. It is the first time Treves considers Merrick his friend. This transformation changes Treves' spirit, as he realizes that human kindness is more important than the fame and fortune he originally sought.
The only person who had shown true human kindness to Merrick was Mrs. Kendal, a famous actress. Upon their first encounter, Merrick impresses Mrs. Kendal by reciting lines from Romeo and Juliet. Mrs. Kendal exclaims, "You're not a monster, why... you are Romeo." She then embraces him with a kiss and a hug, disregarding his deformity and grotesque appearance. This genuine act of kindness brings happiness to Merrick. However, it is when Mrs. Kendal dedicates a performance to Merrick, acknowledging his love for theater, that he experiences his happiest moment.
At first,
Treves notices Merrick and the standing ovation he receives simply by being present and recognized by the actress. Initially, Treves aspires to obtain such praise, but when Merrick receives such recognition, Treves realizes that he is being ignored and goes unnoticed, which is the opposite of what he initially wanted. When Treves is introduced in the film, he is portrayed as a surgeon performing surgery on another victim of an industrial accident. As the film unfolds and Treves meets Merrick, his motivation shifts towards achieving professional acclaim and recognition for discovering this extraordinary being.
Throughout the process of trying to integrate Merrick into London society, Treves comes to a closer understanding of Merrick's true essence. Through a series of interactions and exhibits of human qualities, Merrick gradually transforms into a fully realized individual in Treves' eyes. This significantly shifts Treves' priorities, as his professional aspirations become less important compared to recognizing Merrick's inherent humanity. Ultimately, the realization of Merrick's humanness mirrors Treves' own self-discovery of his empathetic nature.
