“From the back of his head hung a bag of spongy fungous-looking skin, the surface of which was comparable to brown
cauliflower. The nose was merely a lump of flesh … the deformities rendered the face utterly incapable of the expression of
any emotion whatsoever.” This horrifying description of John Merrick sets the stage for a story that asks what makes the
man a man. Is it the outward appearance, or rather the inner morality? Bernard Pomerance attempts to unravel this puzzle in
The Elephant Man.
The true story of John Merrick, The Elephant Man, a man whose body is hideously deformed, but within is a remarkably
sensitive and intelligent being, comes to light after a brilliant young surgeon discovers Merrick traveling in a freak show.
Intrigued by him, Frederick Treves befriends the Elephant Man, finding him a home in the London Hospital and strives to do
nothing less than give Merrick a life that is normal “as far as is possible.” But what is normal? What does normality achieve?
cauliflower. The nose was merely a lump of flesh … the deformities rendered the face utterly incapable of the expression of
any emotion whatsoever.” This horrifying description of John Merrick sets the stage for a story that asks what makes the
man a man. Is it the outward appearance, or rather the inner morality? Bernard Pomerance attempts to unravel this puzzle in
The Elephant Man.
The true story of John Merrick, The Elephant Man, a man whose body is hideously deformed, but within is a remarkably
sensitive and intelligent being, comes to light after a brilliant young surgeon discovers Merrick traveling in a freak show.
Intrigued by him, Frederick Treves befriends the Elephant Man, finding him a home in the London Hospital and strives to do
nothing less than give Merrick a life that is normal “as far as is possible.” But what is normal? What does normality achieve?
| The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. in New York. |
