The Elephant Man Group

Question:


artzygrl93
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is the summary of "The Elephant Man?"

Please give a detailed answer.

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Posted by artzygrl93 on Monday August 4, 2008 at 9:53 AM and tagged with summary, the elephant man.

Answers:


  1. dymatsuoka

    eNotes Editor

    John Merrick, a victim of Proteus Syndrome, is considered a freak of nature.  He is being exhibited byRoss, a carnival manager when he is rescued by Fredrick Treves, who pays to study Merrick's condition.  Treves then exploits Merrick himself, using him as a model while he shows slides of his deformities at a lecture.  Merrick is abandoned in Brussels by Ross when he becomes a liability.  Alone in London, he is found by a policeman who finds Treves' card in his pocket, and puts him under the doctor's care. 

    Treves gives Merrick a home at the hospital, but forces him to constantly express his thanks and follow his rules.  Treves brings an actress, Mrs. Kendal, to meet Merrick; she engages him in conversation and is impressed with his capability for deep thought.  Merrick meets her friends, but all of them fail to see that Merrick has a definite personality of his own.

    Merrick develops a deep religious faith, and works on a model of St. Phillip's Church, representing his vision of perfection.  He is curious about his sexuality, and Mrs. Kendal shows him her body.  Treves dreams that Merrick is lecturing about him, exposing him as being self-centered and sexually repressed in a scene mirroring Treves' earlier lecture about Merrick.  Just as he is managing to achieve a somewhat normal life, Merrick's body begins to fail, and he dies.

    There is a more comprehensive summary at the second link referenced below.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/elephant-man/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/elephant-man/summary

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    Posted by dymatsuoka on Monday August 4, 2008 at 9:57 PM