The Death Of Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man

Very moving documentary excerpt which describes the decline in health, and subsequent death, of Joseph Carey Merrick, otherwise known as The Elephant Man.

[@Masaga317]

To all that believed in this man, bless you all! He was alive with feelings and a soul, he needed love just like we the world do.

[@foxylorri64]

When they ask what famous person should you like to have met,I would say John Merrick. He would have been charming company.

[@yaboimaxwell9031]

I agree. He was a very intelligent man.

[@marin938]

Beautiful statement lorraine only a real Gods angel could have said such waarm and gentle remark

[@foxylorri64]

+Marin Šundov well Thank you, such a lovely thing to say.:)

[@dishchicken]

it is Joseph not John FYI

[@michellehayton3449]

I would look at him, no problem at all. How dare you call him a monstrosity? at least we can see his humanity, that makes us better than you!

[@michellehayton3449]

May Joseph rest in peace. He had such a huge heart and beautiful soul. Any person who was close to him was blessed! He went through so much pain and difficulties, but he never complained. He was beauty personified, because his beauty came from his soul. Wish I could have known him!

[@firstborn1988gorsaga]

In this day and age, we call so many people ugly. We have no business doing so considering what some poor bastards have to go through.

[@AnnLiOz]

To think of how Joseph suffered is deeply upsetting. To see his poor skeleton in this film makes me cry right now. Its so little and fragile, and to know it was him is just too much.There arent the words to describe my feelings. How terrible it must have been for him as a child, and no one ever seems to think of that...Its just unbearable. He was a lovely,brave ,wonderful and intelligent man , and I wish I could tell him so.All my admiration and respect for him. My heart goes out to you Joseph.

[@kimmyfreak200]

no one bothers much to look each other in the eye u know why? u can see a persons soul. joseph merrick was the closest thing to a monster, but he was human. And all u have to do is look into his eyes in his pictures. He has the KINDEST eyes i've ever seen. I can tell he was a brave, gentle, kind person. Look beyond whats on the outside

[@AnnLiOz]

Re a previous comment:It is not just showing compassion for a dead person. Joseph's story has inspired many people all over the world, and it also educates - though peoples interest in his story - about the needs, dignity and feelings of anyone who is disabled, etc - anyone who is deemed ''different'' in fact in todays society. Joseph's story is relevant today.It makes people think, understand and show compassion for anyone who may suffer for whatever reason in these times too.

[@costigan33]

its so sad things like this happens... and people make fun of people for stuff like this. kids at my cousin's school made fun of her because she had a lump on her arm. she had freaking cancer. she died four months into her 6th grade year...

[@DecepTurkon]

Thank you for those words... I totally agree with you, you really a kind woman

[@AnnLiOz]

Yes. That's what I'm suggesting, and many people think it's possible also - that he had both conditions combined.

[@watchensee]

This is a good documentry I wish they had the whole thing uploaded on here I remember watching this years ago. It was a good thing that Joseph was able to live at the hospital, best place for someone like him. None of his relatives ever came forward sad. And they didn't have nursing homes back then. You were a champion of courage Joseph god rest you soul! :)

[@diane189444]

A gentleman he was. A hero in my eyes. He was so smart, so tidy, enjoyed life of what he could. Joseph Merrick a true gentlemen a man that was very loving. His heart is what we loved his soul you saw it through his eyes. I can understand haveing the medical field having his body. Joseph would of wanted that he would want to help in anyway he could. He would want medical science to find out what happened to cause his bones and body to become this way to help others.A kind soul.

[@staphinfection]

Treves was such an amazing human being, and so was Merrick for clinging to whatever little fabric of life he had left. David Lynch's movie is pretty damn good too, and seems pretty accurate according to the wiki.

[@AnnLiOz]

@watchensee He did keep in contact with his Uncle Charles.He sent him ''Robinson Crusoe'' when he lived in the hospital as a present. Joseph lived with him and his Aunt Jane a while after he left his father and stepmother...but he realised he couldnt stay with them. He considered himself a burden because he couldnt find work, and contribute.... and entered Leicester workhouse. He was so strong and brave , even at such a young age.

[@deesorrento3526]

if I had known you I dann sure would have helped you you were a kind and gentle soul hope one day I have the pleasure of meeting you cause you'll have a loyal friend forever

[@AnnLiOz]

@IVH93 Youre sweet. I wanted to tell you at once because you sounded upset that his skeleton is only for researchers and student doctors to look at, it is NOT on public display, neither are the plaster casts of his limbs and face. The public can instead view his hat and veil, his only surviving letter (to the kind lady who first shook his hand),and the photo of him wearing his best clothes in the Royal London Hospital Museum, which does NOT charge an entry fee.I hope that makes you feel better.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

Do you possibly have the rest of the documentary? Could you possibly upload the whole thing? If its not too much trouble? Thank you.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

One thing I never really understood about one of Joseph's problems was that, even after he lived in the hospital (and of course they would have insisted or helped Joseph take baths for both well-being and health), the growths on the back of his head and back smelled horrible. I know I'm not a doctor or nurse (although when I don't sing or practice, I do read medical books), but perhaps there was some dirt amid those growths they couldn't clean out?

[@AnnLiOz]

@ElMarkyMix I think you mean the recent documentary, shown a couple of months ago in UK. Its actually called''Meet the Elephant man'', and if you type in search theres only at the moment 2 clips from the programme - these was shown on Discovery channel website. If you go on the internet, and try Discovery Channel and the title, maybe you'll come to it, theres I think one or two more clips, info and cgi photos you can download.

[@Bealocwealm]

Beg pardon, I've never heard of this documentary. What is it called, and where can it be obtained? It's very well done, though tends to skim over detail.

[@AnnLiOz]

@watchensee ...and he'd walk about the streets hungry and afraid to go home to his father and stepmother .She was an evil woman, denying him a full meal, saying he hadnt earned it, &eventually his father beat him so hard when he returned from another terrible day trying to sell, Joseph just left, never to make contact with him again.That was when his Uncle took him in for a while...When I imagine Joseph walking around the streets like that, looking so awful and pitiful it just breaks my heart.

[@SlickGinoRomano]

Has anyone else noticed that John Hurt played the Elephant Man in the film, and he's the one narrating!

[@AnnLiOz]

@28ellehcim I do agree with you completely, as do many admirers of Mr Merrick...However, and unfortunately, I would always be concerned that his memorial or grave would be defaced by horrible heartless people, which would be very upsetting indeed - that is why I think, for the moment at least, its better his remains stay where they are - safe.

[@sparton616]

thank you for the info

[@AnnLiOz]

@silvermystic2001 Joseph was born a perfect baby. The first signs of his illness started when he was about 2 when a bump appeared on his lower lip, which increased in size until it caused the upper lip to be pushed outwards, and lumps on the left side of his body.

[@mishima1970]

It was shown on British television about 10 years ago.

[@AnnLiOz]

@IVH93 Thankyou. After all, these days it would be quite resonable to keep a little sample for research, I wouldnt object to that, and an exact replica of his skeleton could be made.And then Joseph could be given a proper and respectful funeral that was never given him in life(they did have a memorial service I believe). The thing is, I get really emotional about it. To know that skeleton is really him just gets to me, its so little, fragile and sad. It just makes me cry.

[@AnnLiOz]

@watchensee Yes, Marian Eliza - but, like his mother, no one knows how she was ''crippled'', the term covers many conditions.Recent research has also discovered that Joseph had another little brother, apart from William who died from scarlett fever. His name was John and he only lived 3 months.

[@watchensee]

@MrsJosephMerrick God that man indured alot of painful Bullsh*t in his life damn Father & Stepmother! }:( Bless his Uncle! I know his Mother was good to him, sadly she fell ill and passed away. I heard something about that Joseph had a Sister, and she was crippled since birth?

[@c6gav]

I think it would be a nice touch to knigth this man. If only there was some way of showing this man how we understand illness today..!!

[@tbdonnelly67]

Cool! I'd love to read it. Please send me a link.

[@Trund27]

I had a crush on him when I was a teenager. Actually, all of my first loves were dead Victorians...Edgar Allan Poe, Vincent van Gogh, Joseph Merrick, Charlie Chaplin... I was a strange girl. Still am

[@Luke1111000]

just wondering if the room they showed at 2:38 was the original that Joseph lived in? thanks :)

[@lvmykids1]

@WatsDaWurd so true. many people only see the bad things in society, we need to look more to the positive things.

[@MadCapAithne]

How can one not love true beauty?

[@Baltimora1957]

I still wish they would let the medical part of it go and give him a burrial. I would think by not people would like to have a grave and body in it to visit and pay homage to.

[@AnnLiOz]

@jables183 He was the eldest son, he had a brother &sister.His brother William died when a child, &his little sister Marian was also crippled in some way. His mother ,Mary Jane, loved him very much, but died when he was about 11. HIs father remarried, &his stepmother was very cruel to him, denying him meals, because he couldnt find work, &his father beat him - so he left home.... The only member of his family he kept in contact with was his Uncle Charles.Abridged explanation,I hope it helps.

[@AnnLiOz]

@MrJon1994 I totally agree with you. He should no longer be called that. He should be called ONLY by his name.

[@pandascarpo]

touching...

[@AnnLiOz]

@28ellehcim I still stand by what I say,because I really believe it would happen.But of course I totally understand you. Ive never seen his remains in real myself, and I genuinely have no wish to. And just seeing them in photos is enough to make me cry. His skeleton is so fragile, vulnerable and sad to see, its just overwhelming. I know hes ''no longer there'', but its still Joseph too, and it shows just how much he suffered, even as he had such an indomitable spirit, and never complained. xx

[@AnnLiOz]

@watchensee ...On an even sadder note, it was his Uncle Charles who came identity him formally when he died.

[@AnotherIncipient]

I recently saw a musical version of the Elephant Man called Face to Face. I don't know much about the Elephant Man, and I didn't think the musical did him much justice, It seemed to say he had more of a simple mind. They went to the theatre and he believed that the characters were real and would cheer them on as they fought an ogre. I had heard he was rather intelligent. Is this the truth?

[@Trund27]

@PicturelyYours Beautifully said

[@eArtrash]

poor guy :'(

[@AntiReviews]

Is this narrated by John Hurt?

[@nik78757]

what is the name of the song playing @ about 5:00 min?

[@Cla900]

we've grown fickle and ignorant in different ways though

[@AnnLiOz]

@TraceurHarryG1 It is not a model, it is real. And his remains are for researchers or medical students, etc only to study - it is not for public display.

[@AnnLiOz]

@947rich No offence, but thats not correct. He died from asphyxiation - the weight of his head being too heavy for his neck to support it when he lay down to sleep ''just once as a normal person''. Whether it was deliberate or an accident, we'll never know.The bedclothes were tidy when he was found, so it seemed that he passed away without distress...but it is unimagineably sad and upsetting that Joseph died like that, totally alone....

[@jsmithbab6]

Life's like this definitely makes us understand friends and stuff is not it. I think elephant man died because he couldn't cope with this environment any longer.

[@Sirradal]

What of his mother? What deformity/handicap did she have? (if any)

[@TraceurHarryG1]

5:04 it would have been better if he was buried but no they had to put his body on show after death

[@IVH93]

@MrsJosephMerrick OK, thanks for the options to make that clear! And thank you again:) Well, I still think it's unfair that they have to have it though. They should put that case to rest.

[@2tur]

yep. This man has his head on his shoulders. Many hypocrites here.

[@diane189444]

I did not write that comment and you know I feel sorry for the person who used my name and posted they could not look at him...I feel sorry for you. Why your a thief, you have no heart Joseph had feelings and a heart. I really feel sorry you had to write what you did. Joseph was more of a person than you will ever be in a life time

[@watchensee]

@Trund27 You're not strange! Perhaps these men inspirered your feelings by their remarkable talents. The things they did, and overcame. They beat alot of odds in their struggling lives! :) Both Vincent and Joseph struggled terribley. Vincent mentally, and Joseph physically. :(

[@Baltimora1957]

@bullterrier1972 That has a nice sound to it doesn't it? The man was a true hero and was everything positive that you could ever ask for in a human being. He should be knighted.

[@jimmyjennings4089]

I believe god must have felt so sorry for Joseph Merrick to put it in these mens hearts to show mercy on this poor man, my god i cant imagine what this man went through the saddest thing ive ever seen.

[@tbdonnelly67]

Thanks very much for the information. Inconclusive? That does not sound right. Redo the tests!

[@moatguy]

One reason was because Dr Treaves thought he had elephantitus.

[@razmus88]

first of all, the movie you think about is from the 80s, so i dont think its neccesery to do a remake :P, and second, the origínal movie is from the 40s i think

[@UltimateTibu]

@MrOrangegamer You aren't the only one.

[@rhysninetyeightynine]

what...this ruins it, the rumour i heared was that enelephant trampled his mum when she was pregnant

[@Trund27]

@MademoiselleAnna That's why I had a crush on him when I was a brutally awkward, outcast teenager I still love him now that I am a brutally awkward, terminal nerd in middle age xD

[@watchensee]

@Trund27 You're welcome, but they're words of truth! :)

[@jeffthompson1439]

My ender perl landed here

[@fairman93]

he's dead 49ers whatever get over it no-one know's how he felt coz no-one was alive wen he was x

[@joe744]

well somehow the guy a celebrity people still talking of him after 120 years after his death maybe i,m not as bad looking as him but people wont talk of me 2 months after i,m gone lol..

[@niederdonau]

LEICESTER CITY !

[@0100010]

I think it was because his skin resembled elephant's.

[@EmixEmergency]

@Trund27 thats so unique. i like you. xD

[@atom286]

But arrm ma hueman beying Bullet to the brain rolf!

[@pingpong2456]

you wouldnt be able to look at him

[@your.mum.69.420]

Of course people sympathized for Merrick back then, they even allowed him to live at the hospital.

[@oscarhenao9738]

rest in peace joseph

[@AnnLiOz]

@skorafreestyle I read somewhere, a long while ago, that ( as I understand it) his relatives consider his remains as a ''memorial''. Its not for me to comment on their point of view, thats their right. As much as many admirers of Mr Merrick wish very much his remains could be buried with a proper Christian funeral( Merrick was a religious gentleman), we also consider that at at least his remains are kept with respect, and are safe.

[@diane189444]

He in my heart a wonderful man. I wish I could of met him not because of what he looked like but because of his love, his caring, his brain how smart and talented he was. Not many kind people out there. He was kind to everyone. I loved him for that. He woke the world up. He showed the evil people and the kind people. He was and still is my hero. I am very much like him personality wise I think there should of been more Joseph Merricks more love and he lived at a time things were bad.

[@Cla900]

i would do anything to go back and time and have a conversation with the man. what a beautiful human being he was.

[@karen33099]

People like you are the monsters. You only know how to judge a book by it's cover. The real person is the soul. You showed us yours

[@browneyes04047]

Joseph Merrick had Proteus syndrome, not nf although proteus syndrome is like nf it is ussually far more debilitating and disfiguring

[@9720jose]

so sorry for this guy it must have literally been hell on earth for him considering all of the teasing staring and harassing

[@TravisLoneWolfWalsh]

he was so beautiful in so many ways he deserved better

[@ligitmuffin]

and now the next generation is worse than his...:/

[@razmus88]

what is proteus syndrome ??

[@sculpture151]

Yeah, and we can't think on our own issues as society: it's better to care with dead people to show compassion than to show compassion with our contemporary brothers.

[@AnnLiOz]

@watchensee The ear isnt positioned far back so much as ''turned over'' where the deformity of Joseph's face pushes it downwards. The position isnt the cause of the deafness, its because when thy made a scan of his skull they could see more abnormal bone growths actually in his ear - in fact, blocking it....Theres just a few clips of the docu on utube, theyre about how he walked,slept, died,and the one where the finished cgi has him ''talking''. Have a look and you'll find them....

[@watchensee]

@MrsJosephMerrick I wondered about the hearing in his right ear. When you look at how it's postioned it's so far from where it should be. I read about him some years back on the internet that's how I found out about the hearing & vision problems. I also read that some of the people that he worked with didn't knw how to read & write, and Joseph had to write things down for them.Joseph was also a man of class! I would really like to see this new documentry about him.

[@AnnLiOz]

@watchensee I had to look it up! But youre right, he was a Leo, being born on 5 Aug 1862. :) Before becoming a hawker(salesman),he worked in a cigar factory called Freemens, straight after he left school, but as his right hand grew more deformed and clumsy, eventually he had to leave.That whe his father got him the hawking licence. It was terrible.Children would follow him, people wouldnt open their doors when they knew it was him.In the end, he couldnt make the quota his father set him...

[@watchensee]

@MrsJosephMerrick Wow I had no idea he had any contact with relatives. I know he worked as a door to door salesman, but after his condution progressed he could no longer do that job and went to the workhouse. Workhouses were terrible places! The sideshow buisness was his idea, he figured he could profit from his misfortune. Yes he was strong and brave he had more gutts than most people, his birth sign was Leo I think?

[@AnnLiOz]

@Baltimora1957 I absolutely agree with you...Poor Joseph is still an ''exhibit'' even after death. It is enough. I would accept if a little piece of his remains be kept for research,but the rest be buried with dignity at last. Its terrible to see that little skeleton of his.But somewhere quiet - because I know people could be cruel.So I think the hospital should make a memorial in the gardens of the hosp where he used to walk in the evenings,&it would be there people could pay their respects.

[@AnnLiOz]

@staphinfection The film was mostly inaccurate -Mr Merrick was never treated cruelly while he worked the fairs in England.He was respected &made freinds, &saved money.Neither was he at the hospital. Most painful is the slander put upon his mother,who in fact loved him very much, and died when he was about 11, the worst thing to happen to him.The film was based on Treves memoirs, which were inaccurate & full of ''artistic license'',as well the ''deliberate mistake'' of calling him John.

[@AnnLiOz]

@AnotherIncipient ...In that musical &that Pomerance play, the way he talks annoys me, as it depicts him as being almost ''imbecilic ''-I admire Hurts portrayal in the film because the way he talks shows clearly it was only a physical problem(for him to talk clearly). In my humble opinion, Joseph was an ill &naive man, &may have unconsciously or not, used his imagination to help him cope with the trauma of knowing how he looked..

[@AnnLiOz]

@AnotherIncipient He WAS intelligent,he spoke about subjects which surprised his fellow wotrkers,&he loved to talk about those things he enjoyed,such as books.It is correct though about the panto he saw.He was absolutely drawn into it and spoke about it weeks after.He had a very creative &vivid imagination, pretending(for eg) to himself when he was alone, how it might be for him to act the hero of his novels,and ''act out'' the words he would have said to a woman who would have loved him...

[@AnnLiOz]

@cheytacbanger Yes, I think I agree with you about that. It could have been worse - terrible in fact.At least he passed away in a comfortable, clean and safe place, where he was given respect - so perhaps when the end came for him(accident or not) it was peaceful for him.And yes, youre right about his remains, and its right and proper theyre only viewed by professionals(even as photos are available ,but its not the same is it as people staring at the real thing as though for entertainment).

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

@Sirradal Joseph Merrick's mother and father did not have any deformities, however she was crippled. (No one is sure if it was due to any disease or her long years of working as a housemaid, before she married Joseph's father) His younger brother William Arthur had no deformities although his younger sister Marion Eliza was later proven to have suffered from a disease called myelitis, which is an inflammation of the spinal cord.

[@AnnLiOz]

I came back here to voice an opinion,I hope you dont mind.When I think of what was done to Joseph after he died to preserve his skeleton makes me distressed and sickens me.I know it was done for medical reasons etc, and he himself guessed what might happen to him...But, I think its about time his remains were buried with dignity.I would be the first person to lay flowers on his grave.I feel really deeply about it. Thanks.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

I saw this documentary some years ago on Discovery Channel and Discovery Health (and every now and again, it repeats) - it was one of the most fascinating and saddest things I've ever seen. It breaks my heart to think that this beautiful man had suffered so horribly and yet tried to remain humble, gentle and was kind to everyone he knew. Seeing his remains, especially (how bad his deformity was/is), makes me cry. At least, in the final years of his life, hopefully, he was happy.

[@AnnLiOz]

@watchensee ...You may have seen that documentary on Discovery about him a few months ago, that was when they discovered the hearing loss. It was a very emotional programme, and showed how Joseph suffered everyday, even more than was first thought. I couldnt see it here, but one of my in-laws video'd it for me. When they recreated how Joseph spoke I just couldnt stop crying.

[@diane189444]

@Maximillionaire666 I want you to know I in no way would ever make a comment that I could not look at him. I looked at him as a person. He had more of a heart than most of you people out there he is my hero and will always be. One wonderful man in this world.