People who are self-conscious should think of Joseph Merrick and how he overcame his deformed figure. Yeah, people made fun of him. But, he didn't let that ruin his life. This man had an illness. It don't matter if your fat, skinny, beautiful, or ugly. We are all people and we are ALL beautiful on the inside.
such senseless bullying. when will we realise that the blood we spill today cannot erase the blood we spilled yesterday. surel nothing can be worth what merrick went through. btw wats the name of da music
@joushpop You just seem ignorant. The point in the exposure of his story is to show that the outer shell of a man is not what makes a man. So your shallow claim that he'll have a beautiful body in heaven just proves that you still only judge by appearances. You probably didn't mean any harm by it, but the face it's been thumbed up shows that people didn't even understand the meaning of his story and that pisses me off
i still find it so strange why ppl only ever see outer beauty and judge a person on their looks, well Joseph was beautiful inside and out and in spite of his pains, he still loved life ,and graced every one by his warm and kind heart, rest in peace Joseph,
jospeh yes he look like a monster but his heart is love to everyone. and other humans judge him just because of his look. it is true about how humans are evil.
@greenyjnb Actually, it was Joseph...but for some odd reason the doctor, Treves, always called him John and that's stuck. He was Joseph Carey Merrick :)
@greenyjnb Joseph Carey Merrick (5 August 1862 – 11 April 1890), sometimes incorrectly referred to as John Merrick, was an English man with severe deformities who was exhibited as a human curiosity named the Elephant Man.
I watched this movie last night and it left me mentaly damaged.call me a cream puff but that movie is the sadest scaryest meanest movie in the world..great film tho.
the story of joseph merrick i think is both beautiful and melancholy.
beautiful because for someone to have been put through all he had and still carry on with good thoughts and compassion, to find a friend in his surgeon, and then die because all he wanted was to feel normal, like everybody else.
Then melancholy because no one would accept him, not even his own mother, and to be displayed as a freak for being to stare and laugh at.
@TheSkyIsEverywheree Please remember the film is not accurate. It was based on Treves memoirs, and in actual fact Joseph never told Treves his mother had died when he was about 11.Contrary to the suggestion in the film, she loved him very much, taught him to read, made sure he went to school, even played with children til it became physically hard for him(which IS sad).He missed his mother greatly, I quote '' ...she was a good mother to me.'' (from his short yet touching autobio )
@TheSkyIsEverywheree Yes, its kind of true - but that happened after his mother died.His father moved in with a Mrs Emma Antill, &then married her. She was VERY abusive to Joseph, not feeding him enough, and may have physically hurt him as well.His father was eventually abusive to Joseph as well.He was angry because he couldnt find work.One day he beat Joseph very badly, and Joseph left his ''new home'' & family&placed himself at the mercy of Leicester workhouse,where he stayed 4 yrs.
@TheSkyIsEverywheree Yes, it is VERY upsetting.In my opinion these years were the worst times of his life -Treves put it eloquently when he says:''...the shudder of the workhouse was still upon him''.We can only imagine the horrors he suffered there...And also upsetting when he returned to England after being abandoned in Begium.He only wanted to get home to England,but he knew there was no real home to get back to.&he was ill, hungry &exhausted after the 3 day journey. Its just...beyond words.
@TheSkyIsEverywheree Yes...but I really think it would be hard to find an actor to even match Hurts acting and interpretation of Joseph in the film :)
Joseph Merrick - This is one of his poems which embodies how he believes the world perceives him and why he is able to forgive others for their ill thoughts and actions towards him. Enjoy! “Tis true my form is something odd,
But blaming me is blaming God; Could I create myself anew I would not fail in pleasing you.
ever since i first learn of joseph i can help but feel saddned by the way he was treated by so called ppl , untill treves took him under his wing and took him from his crule life in a freak show, thank god that this can never happen again to another fellow human , if i may add i think its so wromg to call him the elephant man,, he has a name its JOSEPH MERRICK, i hope that when some ome else leaves a comment here they will use his name,, rest in total peace Joseph ,
@MrBat01 Youre one of the very few people who Ive seen in comments who share my own sentiment - that, after all this time, he should not longer be called that, but ONLY by his beautiful name. Thanks...Btw though, while he worked in England in the fairs he was NOT maltreated, he was respected and made friends among his fellow workers, some looked out for him if anyone tried to annoy him.
@ISREAL53 Yes...It was such a heartless thing to do, and then to abandon him in a foreign country...It took him 3 days to get home. He was refused passage on the first boat...Joseph had a litlle dream, he hoped before he was taken to Belgium to save up and buy a little house, where he could live in peace and quiet.Its really sad, it was not just a cruel thing to do to him.
@ISREAL53 No-one can really be sure why he was sometimes referred to as "John." Dr Frederick Treves' memoirs about The Elephant Man written in 1923 begin referring to him as Joseph, but then the word is crossed out and replaced with "John," despite Merrick's own letters being signed "Joseph." Given the time frame and the fact all concerned are long dead, we will never truly know. Perhaps he was referred to as "John" to remove any curiosity and unwanted attention while he was living in hospital?
@bojo8686 You are correct in what you say about Treves memoirs. No one knows why Treves made this ''deliberate mistake''. But I dont think it was to draw away unwanted curiosity - Mr Merrick was virtually a celebrity, and everyone called him Joseph. His fellow workers called him Joseph while he worked the fairs, they heard him speak his name distinctly, and on his birth certificate its written Joseph...Its a real mystery why Treves refers to him as John...Perhaps we'll never know why...
@MrsJosephMerrick Having done a wee bit of research I was hoping I would find some reference to Treves having suffered dementia or some other illness, causing him to make the error. After all, these memoirs were written in 1923, the year of Treves' death. But Treves died of peritonitis and I can find no other info. The only other thing I can think of is the use of John as a generic term as it often is in the case of unidentified bodies (John Doe, etc.) Hey ho, another of Earth's mysteries...
In my opinion, the nature of people is based on three pillars. Appearance, intelligence and heart. In reality, the distribution is never the same, but rather only a necessary exchange between the components. There is no one with 100%, and no one with 3 times 0%. If a man as Joseph Merrick had the appearance of 1%, an intelligence of 50%, and perhaps the heart to 99%, he was an average man. Simply a normal human being, like everyone else.
Joseph Merrick was not a monster the real monsters walk among us undetected mr merrick was a great man who struggled against a cruel and almost uncaring world he worked his hole life to one day have a home for himself was mistreated and abused by people but he is a beatiful man the ones who were cruel and bigoted are the real monsters people like Joseph Merrick are hero's
@gregapugh124 i completly argree with you, even to this day ppl still call him the elephant man, and not by his name joseph merrick and that really that saddens me nore ,,
@MrBat01 yes but there are people like you who call him by his name he would be proud of you I am sure make sure you tell people that joseph merrick is his name not elephant man
This movie really made me cry... I'm sorry how they treated you Joseph Merrick, they just couldn't accept the fact that you were a human being...and you'll always be one.
"Was I so tall, could reach the pole, Or grasp the ocean with a span; i would be measured by the soul, The mind's the standard of the man."(The Autobiography of Joseph Carey Merrick).
I ever want to see it and it was a great movie, but the story about this man is really sad... If i ever saw a guy like this, i'll do my best to be nice to him and i would be a real friend for him
R.I.P. Not the Elephant Man, but Joseph Merrick, "A MAN" who everyone can learn from and respect. We love u, and, even though i just learned of who u are today, this very hour, I hold the utmost respect for u. God Bless U, Joseph Merrick, The Human.
My personal hero, too. I cried a lot when a saw "The elephant Man" by David Lynch. I was a child then. I still feel, however, a deep sadness when I think how deep and destructible, human ignorance and cruelty can be.
We really need to appreciate what we have...If I was born with his condition I would've lost my sanity.It just proves how strong this man is,he took it like a man and still lived his life. He drove it until the wheels fell off...Rip Joseph.
@alexander77691 the film has several fictionallised accounts of his life. Apparently he was never abused by the showmen, out of the few showmen he had been with only one robbed and deserted him. In fact he proposed the idea of being a "freak" in order to support himself. Many showed kindness to him prior to his fame, and of course there would be those who harassed him, but it wasn't as sad as the film made out to be.
@Vidhole Its correct what you say - but I cant agree with you that his life wasnt as sad and distressing.Can you imagine how it was for him as a child?The life he suffered in the workhouse, of which he was so traumatised he could never talk about? And the mental burden of living day to day knowing how he looked? No one can ever imagine how it was was to be him, Im sorry I pour out my heart, but he really did suffer in his short life, feeling a few happy moments at the hosp - to die alone
@Vidhole Yes, of course I agree with you about the movie. A certain scene makes me feel sick, so I dont watch it ever....I get too emotional, sorry about that. Take care x
This man is my distant cousin on my mom's side of the family. Her entire side is from England and I have a green book with family history, labeled Merrick Family History, which has both his name and my mother's name in it. What an honor.
I wish I could have gotten to meet him, but unfortunately I never did.
Seems like an amazing man.
I get so upset when i see people do this because it is so crude, and he is my flesh and blood. So, yeah, pretty much sucks.
@LambertLuver1994 With great respect to you, I believe all of these genuine tributes are out of sincere admiration for your relative. We are just trying to express our feelings in which ever way we can...Please dont be upset. You must be very proud to realise what a profound inspiration Mr Merrick is, to so many people, all around the world.
Come on everyone has to admit, he did look "Freaky" but that does not matter, people should be judged because of what is inside of them, I would never not become friends with somebody because they look different, i would like them more because they are unique, I feel so sorry for Joseph Merrick for what he had to go through his life, it is so sad.
@MaPsG0006 Too bad all we see in movies and television these days (AT least in United STates) are full of imbecille guys with six packs and so subsances.
The main part that has always stuck with me is when he is looking at the picture of his mother, and he's saying how he hopes she is proud of him and he wasn't an embarrassment to her :(
@JohnMan59 Joseph Merrick IS his name.Its on his birth certificate. Your confusion(I presume) is because of the infamous mistake by Treves in his memoirs and so from the film, because it was based on his memoirs. Joseph did have a brother William,who died when a little child,&a sister,Eliza. The film was also wrong in saying his mother never loved him, &was still alive( scene with Treves' wife).She loved him very much, but died when he was about eleven. &he was never abused at the hospital.
@MasterFeradon Everyone he knew, who cared for him, including my great, great uncle William Thackerford, dearly referred to him as John. It was not a slam....it was just the way it was. Time can be revisionist, but not necessarily how things were.....
@YORKIE230557 Really lovely, I sense your heartfelt ''love'' for Joseph, sincere and plainspoken.I just would change one thing( if I may) - instead of ''lust'' use ''longing''.He was a man with a mans desires, but I think its just more appropriate.And romantic, because of all his novels he loved to read, romances were his favourite. In them,&through his ''plays'' to himself when he was alone,he acted out the hero of his dreams.But I think he was beautiful& a hero all the same. Thanks. x
Its unbelievable to think of a human living alone for most of his life with such a deformity. but with what his body lacked his soul was given a thousand times over. He shouldn't be ridiculed because of his appearance but respected because of his strength to continue living as long as he did with such horrible, and selfish people who couldn't look past his physical appearance. RIP Joseph
Ok. I'm really fedup with this silly arguement. Not to anyone personally, but if anyone queries Joseph's name, why dont you just take the time to read about him on the many sites on the net, or read the book - if youre genuinely confused by the ''mistake'' made in the film. It actually distracts from the real message of this vid and his inspiring and touching story.
@ILCOVERU Its ok. Joseph died from asphyxia,the weight of his head being too much for his neck to support when he lay down to sleep.He always slept sitting up, but it is believed that he tried to ''make the experiment'' one afternoon.He knew it was a risk to his life should he do so.Whether it was deliberate or not is not certain; he was in great pain by that time.His body was as that of an old man, and his limbs so heavy that every movement was an effort.But I believe it was just an accident...
@littlemissrandomis12 I did not understand where your comment was coming from, but if you read about him you will see that it is Joseph.
The film (if you have only ever seen the film, which is inaccurate in places) calls him ''John'' because it was based on the memoirs of Frederick Treves, and he made the ''mistake'' in those memoirs. Treves, when he was at the London Hospital , always called him Joseph. Joseph called himself Joseph...Go anywhere on the net and check it out.
@ILCOVERU .......He was a very religious person, and was seen to be in his usual spirits in the morning...Just once he wanted to be ''like every one else''.It was perfectly usual he would stay in his bed quite late in the day by that time....
@Brady2k10 He was a very nice person, gentle and kind and intelligent, and never showed any bitterness - even for those who reacted so harshly to how he looked. He accepted any kindness he was shown with great humility.
HOW THE HELL IS HE AN ELEPHANT MAN? HES A HUMAN! A person who was never loved, cared for, but he was an amazing man, and instead of doing what all the other people did, Im sure all the people who cared and still do care about him would welcome him with open arms! I would. In this world, if he were still alive, he would have been the most loving and caring man you would ever meet. R.I.P, mr Joseph Merrick.
@mofos4 he was called the elephant man because at the circus he worked in his back story was his mother was struck down by an elephant whilst pregnant
@mofos4 I agree. This story has touched me for a very long time, for very deep reasons. This suffering soul may be the true face of what humanity has become.
@ThaDK00 I know it was 150 years ago. I'm saying that his suffering and his deformity can symbolize what has happened to society as a whole in the last 150 years. Buddy, I'm not brain-dead! LOL!!
Joseph Merrick was not a ELEPHANT MAN! He was a HUMAN BEING! A HUMAN BEING who suffered more in one day then most people do in a life time.
How cruel the world is and all of us in it to others. We condemn all those different and it leaves scares we can never see because they are on the inside. It's Human nature to turn away what we don't understand. BUT that should never turn away a HUMAN BEING.
R.I.P. Joseph Merrick! You came to us too early, we didn't understand you. Give us more time!
@daviddarkmaster I wish he was no longer called that. I really really hate it. Its actually upsetting. After all this time, surely this wonderful man should be called by his real and beautiful name.
@InDAnumbers they first thought that he suffered from the diseae, elephantias which does exist, though Merrick had another syndrom, the skin escpecially on his backside also reminded much of the type of skin elephants have.
This is a truly beautiful moving film, but remember theres a lot of inaccuracies and ''artistic license'' in it on the part of David Lynch. There was never a night porter who treated him so cruelly - thank God - he was only treated with respect during his time at the hospital...
But Joseph did truly suffer deeply during many parts of his life. His real story is no less upsetting.
@daehllaw , I know.I feel the need, no matter whether it's true or fiction ed to say to Mr Merick : I'm sorry. On behalf of the people who hurt you: I'm sorry.The other day I was walking a road. There was this female dwarf also walking, and a guy laughing at her.I felt so angry, I wanted to go to him and say:"Hey , your haircut is ridiculous(really it was), at least she didn't chose her height..But of course I would be of the same material,right?
Archangel Lucifer cries with you, edward scissorhands...
MrArchangelLucifer 2 weeks ago
Adadgio for Strings by Samuel Barber
1DoTLone 2 weeks ago
he is a beautiful man who was mistreated by the cruel monsters who live among us. rip Joseph Merrick.
TheJessica654321 3 weeks ago 2
mr merrick was a true testament to courage and humanity in a cruel world ,and one beautifull film that will touch you inside ..........
SuperQuinn22 1 month ago
People who are self-conscious should think of Joseph Merrick and how he overcame his deformed figure. Yeah, people made fun of him. But, he didn't let that ruin his life. This man had an illness. It don't matter if your fat, skinny, beautiful, or ugly. We are all people and we are ALL beautiful on the inside.
EncoreProductionz9 1 month ago
We should all look up to this MAN
skipjacktuna11 1 month ago 8
such senseless bullying. when will we realise that the blood we spill today cannot erase the blood we spilled yesterday. surel nothing can be worth what merrick went through. btw wats the name of da music
MultiWerewolf1 2 months ago 4
right now he must be in heaven with a buitiful body
joushpop 2 months ago 5
@joushpop You just seem ignorant. The point in the exposure of his story is to show that the outer shell of a man is not what makes a man. So your shallow claim that he'll have a beautiful body in heaven just proves that you still only judge by appearances. You probably didn't mean any harm by it, but the face it's been thumbed up shows that people didn't even understand the meaning of his story and that pisses me off
stevoc16 7 hours ago
feel sorry for the guy having to put up with toture in the circus an stuff poor little chap r i p john merrick
JESSEYBEEMIC 2 months ago
one of the best movies i´ve ever seen..
bennydieerbse 3 months ago in playlist Favoriten von bennydieerbse
What's the link with "From Hell"?
CharlieAlfaPapa 3 months ago
@CharlieAlfaPapa Mr. Merrick makes a brief appearance in the movie, which is about the investigation of Jack the Ripper.
asclarice 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Rest in peace John Merrick
SuperKare123 3 months ago
i dont see whay they called him elephant man? and its werly sad for him i think poor guy
Ingmar122 4 months ago
i still find it so strange why ppl only ever see outer beauty and judge a person on their looks, well Joseph was beautiful inside and out and in spite of his pains, he still loved life ,and graced every one by his warm and kind heart, rest in peace Joseph,
MrBat01 5 months ago
Not john it's joseph merrick
alexandramario 5 months ago
Well done!
PeonSanders911 6 months ago
whats the song called???
des0connor 6 months ago
@des0connor Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber
cuparinos 5 months ago
jospeh yes he look like a monster but his heart is love to everyone. and other humans judge him just because of his look. it is true about how humans are evil.
monzilla22 7 months ago
Make joseph merrick a sir..!!! it would be a nice touch..!!
c6gav 7 months ago
Is this person on here making comments with the addy (mrs jospeh merrick) belonging to him..?? dose anyone know..???
c6gav 7 months ago
i am still ugly
RayWilliamJohansen 8 months ago
R.I.P Joseph, you deserved so much better than mankind
Wardog261291 8 months ago
the song is on the soundtrack of the movie Platoon
superpippofalgm 9 months ago
Im pretty sure his name is John Merrick but i may be wrong
greenyjnb 9 months ago
@greenyjnb Actually, it was Joseph...but for some odd reason the doctor, Treves, always called him John and that's stuck. He was Joseph Carey Merrick :)
Ellie8969 8 months ago
@greenyjnb It is Joseph. Many thought it to be John because of Frederick Treves' memoirs, in which he is called John, but that is incorrect.
Omgffsmf 8 months ago
@greenyjnb Joseph Carey Merrick (5 August 1862 – 11 April 1890), sometimes incorrectly referred to as John Merrick, was an English man with severe deformities who was exhibited as a human curiosity named the Elephant Man.
CityWideRentals 8 months ago
what song is it that's played in the background? :)
southernbelle274 9 months ago
@southernbelle274 Samuel Barber's ''Adagio'' - used during the last scene of the film
MrsJosephMerrick 9 months ago
RIP Joseph Merrick - forgive us for our stupidity
leocapo70 9 months ago
anyone who dislikes this cant understand the true meaning of courage and beauty
mardansam123yoongli 9 months ago
purely unbreakble nothing comes close to the strength of this mans spirit.
Gantzer1 9 months ago
What a beautiful soul he had! May gods home be a place of much peace and Love Friend xo.love Ads
1baratone 9 months ago
Wow, this must be a really good movie...
fokkingchappie 10 months ago
If i had that i would have gone all nuts and be a serial killer, nuff said.
300tunes 10 months ago
@300tunes ?...no?
graysonbreeden 10 months ago
hard to say
Benjasem 10 months ago
Omg this is terrible...
zanjkaa 10 months ago
I watched this movie last night and it left me mentaly damaged.call me a cream puff but that movie is the sadest scaryest meanest movie in the world..great film tho.
budcultivator 10 months ago
the story of joseph merrick i think is both beautiful and melancholy.
beautiful because for someone to have been put through all he had and still carry on with good thoughts and compassion, to find a friend in his surgeon, and then die because all he wanted was to feel normal, like everybody else.
Then melancholy because no one would accept him, not even his own mother, and to be displayed as a freak for being to stare and laugh at.
this man is an inspiration to me
TheSkyIsEverywheree 11 months ago
@TheSkyIsEverywheree Please remember the film is not accurate. It was based on Treves memoirs, and in actual fact Joseph never told Treves his mother had died when he was about 11.Contrary to the suggestion in the film, she loved him very much, taught him to read, made sure he went to school, even played with children til it became physically hard for him(which IS sad).He missed his mother greatly, I quote '' ...she was a good mother to me.'' (from his short yet touching autobio )
MrsJosephMerrick 11 months ago
@MrsJosephMerrick oh, i read somewhere he got thrown out :S
well that makes the story a little happier :)
TheSkyIsEverywheree 11 months ago
@TheSkyIsEverywheree Yes, its kind of true - but that happened after his mother died.His father moved in with a Mrs Emma Antill, &then married her. She was VERY abusive to Joseph, not feeding him enough, and may have physically hurt him as well.His father was eventually abusive to Joseph as well.He was angry because he couldnt find work.One day he beat Joseph very badly, and Joseph left his ''new home'' & family&placed himself at the mercy of Leicester workhouse,where he stayed 4 yrs.
MrsJosephMerrick 11 months ago
@MrsJosephMerrick D: that's so terrible! people are just so cruel! :/
TheSkyIsEverywheree 11 months ago
@TheSkyIsEverywheree Yes, it is VERY upsetting.In my opinion these years were the worst times of his life -Treves put it eloquently when he says:''...the shudder of the workhouse was still upon him''.We can only imagine the horrors he suffered there...And also upsetting when he returned to England after being abandoned in Begium.He only wanted to get home to England,but he knew there was no real home to get back to.&he was ill, hungry &exhausted after the 3 day journey. Its just...beyond words.
MrsJosephMerrick 11 months ago
@MrsJosephMerrick i think they should re-do the movie but make it more to the facts, so everyone can understand what happened :/
TheSkyIsEverywheree 11 months ago
@TheSkyIsEverywheree Yes...but I really think it would be hard to find an actor to even match Hurts acting and interpretation of Joseph in the film :)
MrsJosephMerrick 11 months ago
@ISREAL53 He's getting his as we speak!
MatthewBuick 11 months ago
Joseph Merrick - This is one of his poems which embodies how he believes the world perceives him and why he is able to forgive others for their ill thoughts and actions towards him. Enjoy! “Tis true my form is something odd,
But blaming me is blaming God; Could I create myself anew I would not fail in pleasing you.
If I could reach from pole to pole
Or grasp the ocean with a span,
I would be measured by the soul;
The mind’s the standard of the man.”
- Joseph Merrick.
MrBat01 11 months ago 65
@MrBat01 not written by merrick, written by isaac watts, so nice sentiment but it wasnt merricks
jackonmsn 10 months ago
@MrBat01
This is the poem that Joseph Merrick used to end his letters but it was not his poem. It was written by Isaac Watts,It's called 'False Greatness'.
mai4149 8 months ago
Comment removed
darkhorse008 7 months ago
@MrBat01 Merrick did use the poem to end his letters, but he didn't write it himself. I was by Isaac Watts :)
Stravinsky91 3 months ago 2
This is the poem Joseph often used, to end his letters of thanks,
Tis my form is something odd - But blaming me, is blaming God,
Could I create myself anew I would not in pleasing you.
If I could reach from pole to pole or grasp the ocean with a span
I would be measured by the sole – the mind is started of the man
MrBat01 11 months ago
ever since i first learn of joseph i can help but feel saddned by the way he was treated by so called ppl , untill treves took him under his wing and took him from his crule life in a freak show, thank god that this can never happen again to another fellow human , if i may add i think its so wromg to call him the elephant man,, he has a name its JOSEPH MERRICK, i hope that when some ome else leaves a comment here they will use his name,, rest in total peace Joseph ,
MrBat01 11 months ago
@MrBat01 Youre one of the very few people who Ive seen in comments who share my own sentiment - that, after all this time, he should not longer be called that, but ONLY by his beautiful name. Thanks...Btw though, while he worked in England in the fairs he was NOT maltreated, he was respected and made friends among his fellow workers, some looked out for him if anyone tried to annoy him.
MrsJosephMerrick 11 months ago
fantastic
bonniebardowski 1 year ago
Poor Guy, RIP
AirdrieUnitedDaft 1 year ago
@ISREAL53 Which Motherfucking Cunt Did That, That Inbred Motherfucker
blmthug 1 year ago
@ISREAL53 Yes...It was such a heartless thing to do, and then to abandon him in a foreign country...It took him 3 days to get home. He was refused passage on the first boat...Joseph had a litlle dream, he hoped before he was taken to Belgium to save up and buy a little house, where he could live in peace and quiet.Its really sad, it was not just a cruel thing to do to him.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@ISREAL53 Because of the film. It was based on Treves memoirs, and in them he called Joseph ''John''. Its lead to a lot of confusion ever since.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@ISREAL53 No-one can really be sure why he was sometimes referred to as "John." Dr Frederick Treves' memoirs about The Elephant Man written in 1923 begin referring to him as Joseph, but then the word is crossed out and replaced with "John," despite Merrick's own letters being signed "Joseph." Given the time frame and the fact all concerned are long dead, we will never truly know. Perhaps he was referred to as "John" to remove any curiosity and unwanted attention while he was living in hospital?
bojo8686 1 year ago
@bojo8686 You are correct in what you say about Treves memoirs. No one knows why Treves made this ''deliberate mistake''. But I dont think it was to draw away unwanted curiosity - Mr Merrick was virtually a celebrity, and everyone called him Joseph. His fellow workers called him Joseph while he worked the fairs, they heard him speak his name distinctly, and on his birth certificate its written Joseph...Its a real mystery why Treves refers to him as John...Perhaps we'll never know why...
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@MrsJosephMerrick Having done a wee bit of research I was hoping I would find some reference to Treves having suffered dementia or some other illness, causing him to make the error. After all, these memoirs were written in 1923, the year of Treves' death. But Treves died of peritonitis and I can find no other info. The only other thing I can think of is the use of John as a generic term as it often is in the case of unidentified bodies (John Doe, etc.) Hey ho, another of Earth's mysteries...
bojo8686 1 year ago
I have seen the movie, It is very, very, very emotional and sad,R.I.P john, god bless ya soul xxx
katieleanne12345 1 year ago
Never seen the movie but looks very very sad. How could people treat him like this. I have not heard much about him but r.i.p Joseph :[
flinky24 1 year ago
@flinky24
you have to think of the time period. this was not 1970's ect.. this was in the late 1800's. people were stupid.
mancltymagics1 1 year ago
I swear the part of the movie where the woman touches him at the end and he begins to cry my eyes started to water
Sagefrakrobatik 1 year ago
In my opinion, the nature of people is based on three pillars. Appearance, intelligence and heart. In reality, the distribution is never the same, but rather only a necessary exchange between the components. There is no one with 100%, and no one with 3 times 0%. If a man as Joseph Merrick had the appearance of 1%, an intelligence of 50%, and perhaps the heart to 99%, he was an average man. Simply a normal human being, like everyone else.
matjesworld 1 year ago
He really was a hero... a brave one a very very brave one with a lot of courage!
this is the only movie that ever made me cry, and i just cannot cry about movies but this was just wonderfull,sad and so much more...
meziens15 1 year ago
Gods perfection and mans imperfection revealed in John Merrick. This is who God is, and we don't see it. I wonder what else are we not seeing?
oneleggedspider 1 year ago
Joseph Merrick was not a monster the real monsters walk among us undetected mr merrick was a great man who struggled against a cruel and almost uncaring world he worked his hole life to one day have a home for himself was mistreated and abused by people but he is a beatiful man the ones who were cruel and bigoted are the real monsters people like Joseph Merrick are hero's
gregapugh124 1 year ago 12
@gregapugh124 i completly argree with you, even to this day ppl still call him the elephant man, and not by his name joseph merrick and that really that saddens me nore ,,
MrBat01 11 months ago
@MrBat01 yes but there are people like you who call him by his name he would be proud of you I am sure make sure you tell people that joseph merrick is his name not elephant man
gregapugh124 11 months ago
como se llama la cancion?? how its name of song+
mariomrh 1 year ago
RIP JM ['] is in heaven right now, for sure! i scary him, and cry for him! very sad and scary story.
2012PIOTR 1 year ago
is this for real mutation?
mokats11 1 year ago
This movie really made me cry... I'm sorry how they treated you Joseph Merrick, they just couldn't accept the fact that you were a human being...and you'll always be one.
Dev17cmd 1 year ago
the movie made me cry in the end he was a good person but treated like as if he was an animal to the public r.i.p merrick man :'(
DevonteThatDon 1 year ago
"Was I so tall, could reach the pole, Or grasp the ocean with a span; i would be measured by the soul, The mind's the standard of the man."(The Autobiography of Joseph Carey Merrick).
supermountyeh 1 year ago
I saw the movie yesterday
I ever want to see it and it was a great movie, but the story about this man is really sad... If i ever saw a guy like this, i'll do my best to be nice to him and i would be a real friend for him
XtremeCarlJohnson 1 year ago
these are the real true beautiful people in this world
kallik09z 1 year ago
You're a jerk, Feri. Papers do not have anything more here.
Alexandra391 1 year ago
Dumbó a kiselefánt :D
feri930 1 year ago
R.I.P. Not the Elephant Man, but Joseph Merrick, "A MAN" who everyone can learn from and respect. We love u, and, even though i just learned of who u are today, this very hour, I hold the utmost respect for u. God Bless U, Joseph Merrick, The Human.
GodRealm13 1 year ago
he is my hero!!
stevengargoyle 1 year ago
Joseph Merrick you are Beautiful and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.You are my hero.Rest In Peace Joseph<3
SuperKare123 1 year ago
My personal hero, too. I cried a lot when a saw "The elephant Man" by David Lynch. I was a child then. I still feel, however, a deep sadness when I think how deep and destructible, human ignorance and cruelty can be.
bedgrass 1 year ago
We really need to appreciate what we have...If I was born with his condition I would've lost my sanity.It just proves how strong this man is,he took it like a man and still lived his life. He drove it until the wheels fell off...Rip Joseph.
Joker16707 1 year ago
the poeple who mistreat joseph merrick should go to hell!!
alexander77691 1 year ago 2
@alexander77691 the film has several fictionallised accounts of his life. Apparently he was never abused by the showmen, out of the few showmen he had been with only one robbed and deserted him. In fact he proposed the idea of being a "freak" in order to support himself. Many showed kindness to him prior to his fame, and of course there would be those who harassed him, but it wasn't as sad as the film made out to be.
Vidhole 1 year ago
@Vidhole Its correct what you say - but I cant agree with you that his life wasnt as sad and distressing.Can you imagine how it was for him as a child?The life he suffered in the workhouse, of which he was so traumatised he could never talk about? And the mental burden of living day to day knowing how he looked? No one can ever imagine how it was was to be him, Im sorry I pour out my heart, but he really did suffer in his short life, feeling a few happy moments at the hosp - to die alone
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@MrsJosephMerrick i meant in reference to the movie...His life was indeed sad, and i've got a great admiration for the guy.
Vidhole 1 year ago
@Vidhole Yes, of course I agree with you about the movie. A certain scene makes me feel sick, so I dont watch it ever....I get too emotional, sorry about that. Take care x
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
This man is my distant cousin on my mom's side of the family. Her entire side is from England and I have a green book with family history, labeled Merrick Family History, which has both his name and my mother's name in it. What an honor.
I wish I could have gotten to meet him, but unfortunately I never did.
Seems like an amazing man.
I get so upset when i see people do this because it is so crude, and he is my flesh and blood. So, yeah, pretty much sucks.
R.I.P. cuz.. I love you.
LambertLuver1994 1 year ago
@LambertLuver1994 With great respect to you, I believe all of these genuine tributes are out of sincere admiration for your relative. We are just trying to express our feelings in which ever way we can...Please dont be upset. You must be very proud to realise what a profound inspiration Mr Merrick is, to so many people, all around the world.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
1:58 is when my heat breaks into million pieces.....gosh I hated that scene! made me cry.
theperfectmorning 1 year ago
Come on everyone has to admit, he did look "Freaky" but that does not matter, people should be judged because of what is inside of them, I would never not become friends with somebody because they look different, i would like them more because they are unique, I feel so sorry for Joseph Merrick for what he had to go through his life, it is so sad.
alexnzxVersion2 1 year ago
It's really sad how he died and it would be very hard to live like that as well.
djazr 1 year ago
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MaPsG0006 1 year ago 15
@MaPsG0006 You silly, He ugly!
JeffSims009 1 year ago
@MaPsG0006 Too bad all we see in movies and television these days (AT least in United STates) are full of imbecille guys with six packs and so subsances.
vkoo32 1 year ago
@MaPsG0006 you met him? Why do i have trouble believing you?
kro235 1 year ago
@MaPsG0006 if you met Merrick you must be VERY OLD. I think you're lying.
murrangurk 1 year ago
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MaPsG0006 1 year ago
he was so good and kind to evrywone and had a good soul i will not forget this movie or this man his bravery
this is the saddest movie ive saw in my life
RGBRYN 1 year ago
@RGBRYN
The main part that has always stuck with me is when he is looking at the picture of his mother, and he's saying how he hopes she is proud of him and he wasn't an embarrassment to her :(
TwelveBridges 1 year ago
@TwelveBridges yeah - absolutely saddest thing ever
tokaicarl 1 year ago
The Owner And Creator Of Serebii Is Related To Mr.Merrick.The Creator Of Serebii Is Also From London And Is Called Joe Merrick.
RiveraRamos90 1 year ago
Joseph Merrick, you make me strong! :S
koller62 1 year ago
the bastards who made his life hell.....people can be so cruel.....watching this movie always brings a tear to my eye.....
heronmusic2000 1 year ago
life is a huge struggle
nobodysperfect06 1 year ago
For the whole movie...I cried like hell...
People could be so cruel and curt!
I felt soo sorry for John....and he is in my heart and soul...I know he's in a better place! God bless John Merick!
NativeAmericanQueen1 1 year ago
I love you, Joseph Merrick. Your story means a lot to me.
You have faced enormous difficulties in your life, people were cruel to you only because of the way you looked.
I have much respect for the fact that, although people were hurting you, you lived your life. You are beautiful.
Rest in peace.
foimagia 1 year ago
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foimagia 1 year ago
dats sad he was only 27 when he died. probably because all of the stress cruel people wre giving him. R.I.P. Joseph Merrick
MrLocoNBA1 1 year ago
Who is JOSEPH Merrick?
John's brother??????
JohnMan59 1 year ago
@JohnMan59 Joseph Merrick IS his name.Its on his birth certificate. Your confusion(I presume) is because of the infamous mistake by Treves in his memoirs and so from the film, because it was based on his memoirs. Joseph did have a brother William,who died when a little child,&a sister,Eliza. The film was also wrong in saying his mother never loved him, &was still alive( scene with Treves' wife).She loved him very much, but died when he was about eleven. &he was never abused at the hospital.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@JohnMan59 There isn't John Merrick, only Joseph Merrick.
MasterFeradon 1 year ago
@MasterFeradon Everyone he knew, who cared for him, including my great, great uncle William Thackerford, dearly referred to him as John. It was not a slam....it was just the way it was. Time can be revisionist, but not necessarily how things were.....
Thanks, John Joseph (my REAL name.)
JohnMan59 1 year ago
@JohnMan59 Yeah, I know, but his real name was Joseph. Just said it.
MasterFeradon 1 year ago
he had the same problem as rocky dennis ????????
toasyt1234 1 year ago
RIP
doom705 1 year ago
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YORKIE230557 1 year ago
@YORKIE230557 Really lovely, I sense your heartfelt ''love'' for Joseph, sincere and plainspoken.I just would change one thing( if I may) - instead of ''lust'' use ''longing''.He was a man with a mans desires, but I think its just more appropriate.And romantic, because of all his novels he loved to read, romances were his favourite. In them,&through his ''plays'' to himself when he was alone,he acted out the hero of his dreams.But I think he was beautiful& a hero all the same. Thanks. x
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
You were a good man and my hat is off, i send you my respect.
Misfitsarenumero1 1 year ago
THE GREATEST HUMAN BEING EVER, I AGREE...JOSEPH MERRICK FOR EVER.
(L)
SouthernWhiteWolf 1 year ago
Its unbelievable to think of a human living alone for most of his life with such a deformity. but with what his body lacked his soul was given a thousand times over. He shouldn't be ridiculed because of his appearance but respected because of his strength to continue living as long as he did with such horrible, and selfish people who couldn't look past his physical appearance. RIP Joseph
carbone2012 1 year ago
Why ?
Nuclearshell 1 year ago
Ok. I'm really fedup with this silly arguement. Not to anyone personally, but if anyone queries Joseph's name, why dont you just take the time to read about him on the many sites on the net, or read the book - if youre genuinely confused by the ''mistake'' made in the film. It actually distracts from the real message of this vid and his inspiring and touching story.
Please!
Thanks.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
You can start by getting his name right.
RobGoth100 1 year ago
The greatest man who ever or will ever live
eronica5 1 year ago 2
Very sad..
Not to be taken offencevly, I like him with the bag on his head. Its cute :)
Hes human, I feel no human should have to look like this. But thats no reason to treat him differently.
And how rude. They think "elephant" is a insult. hmph
Wulvez 1 year ago
not to be insensitive but, how did he die?
ILCOVERU 1 year ago
@ILCOVERU Its ok. Joseph died from asphyxia,the weight of his head being too much for his neck to support when he lay down to sleep.He always slept sitting up, but it is believed that he tried to ''make the experiment'' one afternoon.He knew it was a risk to his life should he do so.Whether it was deliberate or not is not certain; he was in great pain by that time.His body was as that of an old man, and his limbs so heavy that every movement was an effort.But I believe it was just an accident...
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@MrsJosephMerrick you call him john to keep som of his dignety
ever heard of it
littlemissrandomis12 1 year ago
@littlemissrandomis12 I did not understand where your comment was coming from, but if you read about him you will see that it is Joseph.
The film (if you have only ever seen the film, which is inaccurate in places) calls him ''John'' because it was based on the memoirs of Frederick Treves, and he made the ''mistake'' in those memoirs. Treves, when he was at the London Hospital , always called him Joseph. Joseph called himself Joseph...Go anywhere on the net and check it out.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@ILCOVERU .......He was a very religious person, and was seen to be in his usual spirits in the morning...Just once he wanted to be ''like every one else''.It was perfectly usual he would stay in his bed quite late in the day by that time....
He was 27. Very sad. He was a lovely man.
Hope Ive been of help.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@MrsJosephMerrick thank you for your help
what a horible way to die
ILCOVERU 1 year ago
no it is joseph merrick
vishara1234 1 year ago
its john merrik you idiot
littlemissrandomis12 1 year ago
@littlemissrandomis12 Its Joseph Carey Merrick. Its written on his birth certificate.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
never judge a book by its cover, he was probably such a nice man too, RIP mate, and fuck all of those who insulted and abused you, let them rot.
Brady2k10 1 year ago
@Brady2k10 He was a very nice person, gentle and kind and intelligent, and never showed any bitterness - even for those who reacted so harshly to how he looked. He accepted any kindness he was shown with great humility.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
i wish he was born in our time, i would of been proud to call him friend
Wardog261291 1 year ago
was he really an elephant man or was it just becuz of the movie? or i merrick the actor real face
ThaDK00 1 year ago
HOW THE HELL IS HE AN ELEPHANT MAN? HES A HUMAN! A person who was never loved, cared for, but he was an amazing man, and instead of doing what all the other people did, Im sure all the people who cared and still do care about him would welcome him with open arms! I would. In this world, if he were still alive, he would have been the most loving and caring man you would ever meet. R.I.P, mr Joseph Merrick.
mofos4 1 year ago 2
@mofos4 he was called the elephant man because at the circus he worked in his back story was his mother was struck down by an elephant whilst pregnant
Wardog261291 1 year ago
@mofos4 I agree. This story has touched me for a very long time, for very deep reasons. This suffering soul may be the true face of what humanity has become.
wasteland70 1 year ago
@wasteland70 no wtf you talking about? it was early 150 years ago, now it has changed, this story is teh true face was it was 150 year ago, not now
ThaDK00 1 year ago
@ThaDK00 I know it was 150 years ago. I'm saying that his suffering and his deformity can symbolize what has happened to society as a whole in the last 150 years. Buddy, I'm not brain-dead! LOL!!
wasteland70 1 year ago
song name please?
muse113bliss 1 year ago
no even a shotgun ta the face wid help ?
gallardo0phantom 1 year ago
Joseph Merrick was not a ELEPHANT MAN! He was a HUMAN BEING! A HUMAN BEING who suffered more in one day then most people do in a life time.
How cruel the world is and all of us in it to others. We condemn all those different and it leaves scares we can never see because they are on the inside. It's Human nature to turn away what we don't understand. BUT that should never turn away a HUMAN BEING.
R.I.P. Joseph Merrick! You came to us too early, we didn't understand you. Give us more time!
daviddarkmaster 1 year ago 8
@daviddarkmaster I wish he was no longer called that. I really really hate it. Its actually upsetting. After all this time, surely this wonderful man should be called by his real and beautiful name.
Youre a nice person.
Thanks.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
It's john not joesph
GoCartoonChannel 1 year ago
@GoCartoonChannel
No, his name was Joseph. Its a common misconception, because of the ''mistake'' in Treves' memoirs, on which Lynch based the film.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
why did they call him the elephant man? i saw nothing that looked like a trunk.
InDAnumbers 1 year ago
@InDAnumbers they first thought that he suffered from the diseae, elephantias which does exist, though Merrick had another syndrom, the skin escpecially on his backside also reminded much of the type of skin elephants have.
Leeviten 1 year ago
end theme to "Platoon"
pofwiwice 1 year ago
I cried when I saw the movie for the first time...and now I'll cry again! This music and Joe really sets off the waterworks!
2010Wilde 1 year ago
y couldnt they exept him for who he was.he was a nice person with a deformed body he is just like u and me.
JHoCk52 1 year ago 2
After years of knowing about the film, I watched it two weeks ago and can't shake it from my mind. That man, Mr Merrick, is my personal hero.
daehllaw 1 year ago 21
@daehllaw
yes, it made me superbly cry
i hate the flippin nite guard!
sissylyra20 1 year ago
This is a truly beautiful moving film, but remember theres a lot of inaccuracies and ''artistic license'' in it on the part of David Lynch. There was never a night porter who treated him so cruelly - thank God - he was only treated with respect during his time at the hospital...
But Joseph did truly suffer deeply during many parts of his life. His real story is no less upsetting.
MrsJosephMerrick 1 year ago
@daehllaw , I know.I feel the need, no matter whether it's true or fiction ed to say to Mr Merick : I'm sorry. On behalf of the people who hurt you: I'm sorry.The other day I was walking a road. There was this female dwarf also walking, and a guy laughing at her.I felt so angry, I wanted to go to him and say:"Hey , your haircut is ridiculous(really it was), at least she didn't chose her height..But of course I would be of the same material,right?
ioandes 1 year ago
he wasnt an animal he was a man just as important as any other man they shouldnt treat him differently
we should learn the values of equality
benmorganmckenna 1 year ago 3
@benmorganmckenna
very true, but he was in the hands of london during the industrial revolution, not in the dear hands of america today
sissylyra20 1 year ago
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SymptomOfTheParanoid 1 year ago
i feel really sorry for him:(.fucking stupid people who treated him like shit!
jeppe16361 1 year ago 4
whats the name of the music?
BottledMonkeyFTW 2 years ago
Adagio for Strings Op 11 by samuel barber :)
mcflanette 2 years ago
What do we need to admit some one as a human being?
leojerdi 2 years ago
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MrsJosephMerrick 2 years ago 2