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I Am A Man (The Elephant Man) - Online Essay

I Am A Man (The Elephant Man)


Throughout the novel The Elephant Man by Christine Sparks, John Merrick's quest becomes evident. This quest is not only for John to attain the friendship of others, yet furthermore, for him to find a place in society where his horrid appearance will not cause people to gawk at him mercilessly. John wants to be normal and have others perceive him as the man that he is. Behind John's mask of ugliness, there is a virtuous, tender gentleman whom only a few people take the time to discover. John Merrick's quest for love and stability in his life is impeded by the English society's fascination with freaks, John's fear of what is unknown to him and the Victorian era's perception of disabled ...

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London's high society, simply with respectable intentions. Mrs. Kendal, as well known as she is, has a group of followers. What John does not know is that "wherever Mrs. Kendal goes, others inevitably follow" (182-183). With all of these ritzy visitors, John believes that people want to see him for who he is, not just to make themselves appear more valuable than their compeers are. John and others alike, excite the English. When Fredrick Treves first hears about John Merrick, an "excitement (takes) possession of him"(2) and Treves feels "like a hound that has scented prey"(3). Treves, at first, wants to use John's disfigurements to make his name prestigious and notable. Most people have used John to exhibit him like an animal for most of his life. John assumes that he can not entrust anyone with his heart. The society that surrounds John is barbaric and judgmental towards those who have disfigurations and disabilities. This society treats them as outcasts.
John Merrick, ...

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whom society generalizes as having no feelings, ambitions or dreams. People used terms like "monstrous"(2) and "wicked"(2) when referring to John Merrick. In the English society "No one objects to freaks"(5). This passiveness of cruelty demonstrates itself with circuses, "freakshows"(2) and "funfairs"(2) that contain tents reserved for people with abnormalities. The high-class go to see John while he is at the "London hospital"(10) because it is fashionable to do so. These people look like they are being considerate, but the only two who honestly care are Madge Kendal and Princess Alexandra. Near the beginning of this literary work, Christine Sparks demonstrates the cruelty that ...

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PAPER DETAILS
Added: 12/2/2005 03:21:38 PM
Category: English
Type: Free Paper
Words: 1902
Pages: 7

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