The Elephant Man Synopsis | Plot | Character Traits | Moral Values |
Themes
Synopsis
is a doctor at the London Hospital. One day, he stops in front of a shop
Dr. Frederick Treves
and sees a picture of a horrible creature. He wants to meet the creature. So he pays 12 pence
to see Joseph Merrick, a very ugly man with an huge head. Merrick has an ugly body and he
cannot walk properly. Dr. Treves wants to have an appointment with Merrick at the hospital
to examine his condition. He makes the arrangement with Silcock. So, on the next day, Dr.
Treves brings Merrick to the hospital by cab but there is nothing Dr. Treves can do to help
him with his condition. He gives Merrick a name card before he sends him back. However,
when Dr. Treves goes to find them again on the next day, they are not there anymore.
Two years later, some policemen bring Merrick to the hospital to see Dr. Treves.
Silcock has taken his 50 and left him in Belgium alone. He finds his way back to London.
He is dirty and tired. Dr. Treves asks for help from the Hospital Chairman Mr. Gomm.
Mr.Gomm writes a letter to the editor of The Times newspaper. In his letter, he explains
about how Silcock has taken Merrick to Belgium but has later stolen all his money and has
left him in Belgium. When Merrick gets back to London he is caught by the police. The
police finds the name card and brings him to Dr. Treves. He needs a place to stay but he is
not ill to stay in the hospital. He also cannot go out because he is very ugly and people are
afraid to see him. The hospital can give him a room but they need some money to do that.
Mr. Gomm hopes that the readers will help Merrick. The readers are kind and they have
donated 50,000 to help Merrick to stay in the hospital. Merrick can now stay in the hospital
for the rest of his life.
One day a new nurse sees Merrick and she is so afraid that she screams and runs out
from the room. Merrick tells Dr. Treves that he knows he cannot stay at the hospital for long
and that he wants to move to a lighthouse or a home for blind people so people will not be
able to see. Dr. Treves tells Merrick about the donation and Merrick is once again a happy
man.
He goes on to meet interesting people like Dr. Treves lady friend and her Majesty,
Queen Alexandra, the Queen of England. He even becomes friends with the queen and
receives Christmas present from her. He also sends her letter. Merrick also goes to watch a
play at the theatre and even travel to the country and stays six weeks there during summer.
He enjoys the nature at the countryside.
However, in April 1890, Merrick dies because his head falls on the ground when he
tries to sleep on his back. His head is too heavy that he dies on the spot. Mr. Gomm writes to
The Times again to explain Merricks death and how happy he has been. He thanks the
readers for the kindness and tells the readers that the remaining money will be donated to the
hospital.
Plot
Character
Traits/Moral
Values/Themes
Examples Evidences
Character traits
Dr. Treves is a doctor at the hospital. He pays 12 pence to
see Merrick. After that, he brings Merrick to the hospital to Kind/helpfull/caring/loving
examine him.
Message/Moral values
We should be kind.
Dr. Treves finds a way to help Merrick get a home at the
1.Dr. Treves helps
hospital by telling Mr.Gomm about it. We should be helpful.
Merrick
We should be loving and caring
During Merricks stay at the hospital, Dr. Treves visits him Themes
everyday and talks to him so he will not feel lonely.
Kindnesss/love and care
2. Mr. Gomm helps - Mr Gomm writes to The Times newspaper and asks for Character traits
Merrick the public to help Merrick to stay in the hospital. He gets
50,000 in a week and Merrick can now have a home at the Kind/caring/ loving
hospital.
Message/Moral values
We should be kind
We should be caring
We should be loving
Themes
Kindness/love and care
Character traits
Kind/grateful/caring/loving
Dr. Treves introduces a beautiful young lady to Merrick
Message/Moral values
and she gives him some books on their second meeting.
We should be kind.
3. Merrick starts making
We should be grateful.
friends and becomes Merrick also becomes friends with her Majesty, Queen
friends with the Queen. Alexandra. They talk about books. Her Majesty even sends
We should be loving and caring.
him Christmas card and present. After that Merrick writes a
letter to Queen Alexandra to thank her.
Themes
Kindness/gratefulness/love and
care
Character traits
Kind/grateful/loving/caring
Message/Moral values
- Mrs. Kendal and three nurses help Merrick to watch his
first play at the theatre without anybody seeing him. Merrick We should be kind.
4. Merrick goes to
enjoys the show very much as he laughs and tries to sing like
watch the play
the children. We should be grateful.
We should be loving and caring
Themes
Kindness/love and care
5. Silcock takes Silcock treats Merrick poorly and uses him to make Character traits
advantage of Merrick money in London.
Selfish/disrespectful
Message/Moral values
We should not be selfish.
We should respect everyone.
Silcock takes Merrick to Belgium where many people
want to see him. He takes away the 50 that Merrick has
We should be kind to everyone.
saved and abandons him alone in Belgium. Merrick finds his
way back to London and is later found by the police.
Theme
Selfishness
Character trait
Disrespectful
- Some people laugh at Merrick because he is ugly. One Message/Moral values
6. A nurse is scared of day, a new nurse goes to his room and sees him there. The
Merrick because he is nurse screams and runs out of the room. This makes Merrick We should respect everyone.
ugly. sad and it is not the first time such thing has happened to
Merrick. Theme
Prejudice
Character traits
grateful
- Merrick takes a train to spend 6 weeks at the Message/Moral values
7. Merrick enjoys the countryside. During his stay there, he enjoys the nature. He
nature in the country. listens to the bird sing, watches the fish swim, makes friends We should be grateful for the
with a dog and pick some pretty flowers to put in his room. beautiful nature around us.
Theme
Love for the nature.
