The Elephant Man
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- thebattwoman
- dannysnuffles
- thebattwoman
- mmee
- jiffysgurl85
- pA1rAd0X
- pA1rAd0X
- dannysnuffles
- Skatz
- safehands
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» thebattwoman - Thanks!
I'm glad you found it fascinating. It is such a sad tale, especially when you realise how his intelligence would have only probably served to increase his pain.The movie however does differ in some respects to John's actual life. I don't know for certain whether he did commit suicide or not, I guess I should investigate some more.
I know that Treves performed an autopsy, which is where the death by asphyxiation was recorded. Maybe if they thought he'd committed suicide, the death verdict would have been different?
I'll see if I can track some more info down. I do know that John died in a happier environment than he'd ever known, but maybe being tied to that environment for safety purposes became too much??
So, I'll try and determine what actually happened and get back to you!
Thanks for reading it!
Take care
Beth
-- posted by thebattwoman
» dannysnuffles - Re: Joseph Merrick
In response to message posted by thebattwoman:Hello, very nicely written. I'm author of the Joseph Carey Merrick Tribute Website.
I wonder if I may be of assistance, you wrote in your article: "...Having done rather well with Norman, John moved to London and found himself a home, a home in Bedstead Square, London..." May I correct you please? Joseph was given a home in Bedstead Square (annex of Whitechapel Hospital). After Dr. Treves first saw him and presented him to the Pathological Society, he approached Mr. Carr Gom the then Chairman of the Whitechapel Hospital Governing Committee, requesting that a permanent home be found for Joseph. It was unheard of in those days for hospitals to offer permanent residency to their patients or incurables (the same as today). It was only once the Royal family themselves expressed an interest in Joseph's case and verbally encouraged the Governing Committed gave Joseph a permanent place to live, was a home found within the hospital grounds.
His new home was in Bedstead Square, an annex of the Whitechapel (comprising one living/sleeping room and seperate bathroom/toilet. Bedstead square was given this name because of the hospital's bedsteads that were repaired there.
I hope you didn't mind me sharing this with you. Very best regards, Jeanette Sitton
author of the Joseph Carey Merrick web site at: www.jsitton.pwp.blueyonder.elephantmanantman/elephant_man.htm PLEASE VISIT and offer your support for present victims of Proteus Syndrome (Joseph's illness)
-- posted by dannysnuffles
» thebattwoman - Re: Re: Joseph Merrick
In response to message posted by dannysnuffles:Hi Jeanette, please do correct! I'd rather have accurate than inaccurate! Thank you so much for stopping by, I have visited your Website and found it to be a fantastic tribute to Joseph Merrick. Please do visit everybody because you'll discover a whole lot more there than there is here.
Good luck Jeanette and thank you for sharing 
-- posted by thebattwoman
-- posted by mmee
» jiffysgurl85 - help me please
I was browsing through material for my term paper and i saw this article which proved to be very helpful. Are there any other sites that you could say helped in finding this information???I would love to learn more.-- posted by jiffysgurl85
» pA1rAd0X - ummm mmee
What are you talking about? I think your comment was totally ridiculous. This article is NOT boring. None of it is. If you were disinterested in the tragic story of Joseph Merrick you shouldn't have posted your "boredom." Only people who appreciate how sadly he suffered from the ignorant people who taunted him in that dreadful past should post. And yes, you are right, your writing sucks and I think you to be equally illiterate and ignorant as those people in Joseph's life.-- posted by pA1rAd0X
» pA1rAd0X - Re: :)
In response to message posted by mmee:What are you talking about? I think your comment was totally ridiculous. This article is NOT boring. None of it is. If you were disinterested in the tragic story of Joseph Merrick you shouldn't have posted your "boredom." Only people who appreciate how sadly he suffered from the ignorant people who taunted him in that dreadful past should post. And yes, you are right, your writing sucks and I think you to be equally illiterate and ignorant as those people in Joseph's life.
-- posted by pA1rAd0X
» dannysnuffles - Re: Fascinating article.
In response to message posted by Tina_Coruth:Hi, I'm Jeanette, (Webmaster, Joseph Carey Merrick Website: www.josephmerrick.com). Your posting was very interesting. Do you know, somehow I don't think dying was at all a frightening experience for Joseph. I intuitively feel that he had just had enough. He was in constant pain, the weight of his limbs was ever-debilitating and of course, his breathing was rapidly deteriorating too. It is my personal belief that, he intended to die that night and chose a way that was, the most tranquil to him. It is sometimes hard to detatch oneself from the film and not confuse hard facts with the images on the silver screen, but it is very probable that Joseph would have, at some time, said, "I wish I could go to sleep like normal people". A common belief is that, Joseph's asphyxiation was due to an experiment to lay flat, that went wrong, (or perhaps 'right'). Others say that he purposefully intended to sleep that way, that it was not an experiment, but instead, he was resolved to end his life in the way he liked best. He would certainly have been well aware of the consequences. In the Times Newspaper it said: "there were no marks of violence, and the death was quite natural". If I were in Joseph's position, I would have probably chosen the same way to leave this world.
You are very welcome to visit my website for more information. The site is dedicated to Joseph and I'm sure it will provide answers to any questions you may have. There's also a 'serious' Forum which is frequently visited by those with questions and also by those who wish to be kept informed.
Latest News
========
Joseph is due to receive a Commemorative Plaque. I have been campaigning for over a year and finally, he is about to receive the honour he deserves. As you know, he doesn't have a proper grave, how could he, when his skeleton is at the Royal London Hospital? The plaque erection will take place on Sat. 15th May 2004. To be kept up to date, please check out the site and Forum.
It's so wonderful to know that millions around the world find strength and inspiration from Joseph's story.
Very best wishes to all readers
Jeanette
www.josephmerrick.com
-- posted by dannysnuffles
» Skatz - Commemorative Plaque
Hi Jeanette, like the site, I am a Leicester resident who is part of a folklore project focussing on famous Leicester people. Amongst other things we are in the process of writing a song about Joseph - the intention is to write it from his point of view and make it as accurate and sympathetic as possible; the song's chorus is a contrasting Impressario-type spiel that we imagine Tom Norman may have used to introduce the Elephant Man. I'll be happy to send you a copy once it's completed and recorded. Will you be going to the unveiling of the plaque?-- posted by Skatz
» safehands - Re:
i just want to say this is an amazing site and i think mr merrick would be very pleased that you are giving young people like my self (being only 16) an insite into this rare an terrible debase. He was a man of amazing character and a person we can all learn from. R.I.P Mr J. Merrick-- posted by safehands
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