JOSEPH MERRICK

                                 JOSEPH MERRICK: THE "ELEPHANT MAN"

                                                                 Observation & Response
                                                        by David Howard, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC
                                                              Marriage & Family Therapist
                                                                  Filming of Joseph Merrick
                                                           for the Apple Learning Interchange


On July 16, 2001 I accompanied my wife, Dr. Diane Howard, and one of her student performers, Jack Bland,
an Army NCO, to the Apple Learning Interchange Studio in Austin, Texas, to film an autobiographical
performance. Diane's students develop historic characters by searching diaries and other original documents, writing scripts, and learning how to portray the historic figures' inner lives in an effective manner.
There are many uses for these performances to include making history coming alive for students of many grade levels from elementary to college, learning the lessons and wisdom of great people, and providing positive role models with depth of character. Audiences have the opportunity to interact with the characters,and often the performers stimulate discussion on current issues, human dilemmas, and even personal or family difficulties.

Dr. Keith Mitchell, of Apple Computer's Learning Interchange, heard about these performances, and consequently invited Diane and her students to Apple Computer's studio in Austin to record for their educational website.
The site includes video streaming and an interactive classroom for where students can interact about the characters' performances. They also currently have such live interactive sites as an archeological dig and
an island coastal location with cameras viewing sea lions, underwater life in an aquarium, and at other wildlife scenes.

I accompanied Diane and Jack to watch the filming of Jack's performance of the "Elephant Man," Joseph (popularly known as John) Merrick, who was a horribly disfigured man. Yet he was a person with a beautiful spirit and character. He lived in the late 1800's in London, England. After slides showing his appearance with narrated background, the first scene is set in the room of Merrick in a London hospital. He speaks to his nurse about
his recent annual country trip and begins to make entries in his diary as he spoke. He expresses his gratitude and delight in the joys of experiencing nature and the "games keeper" who "does not care what I look like."

Then Merrick's doctor, Dr. Fredrick Treves, enters, and he talks to the doctor about his gratefulness to him. Merrick expresses his thankfulness for all the doctor had done for him at the nursing home to make his life pleasant, even though he knew "I will never be normal like others."

The scene then changes again with the doctor (also played by Jack) speaking at the London Medical Society's meeting several days later. He speaks with deep feeling about Merrick's death. He reflects how Merrick had become not only a remarkable patient to him, but he also had become a good friend. He then reads a poem the doctor found in Merrick's diary:

     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.

I became aware of several things I take for granted. I appreciated the ability to speak and breathe without labor or difficulty, as Merrick struggled to speak and breathe. He was mocked and jeered because of his grotesque appearance, which would be a cause of depression and bitterness for most. Yet he showed a kind and gracious spirit in his gratefulness and appreciation. I could see his need for connectedness, his humanness, and his honest struggles - the very same needs I have. I could see his desire to be accepted, as I desire with all my imperfections.

I was encouraged to view my difficulties as opportunities to reflect and express contentment with the simple things of nature and relationships. I also learned that I can be too quick to judge someone by the their appearance or exterior problems. The best treasures are most often seen after going below the surface as another becomes truly known. I am finding that with some externally unattractive people I later discover, "What a delightful person he/she is!"

The performance reminded me to look past people's exterior qualities or situations to view and appreciate who they really are behind whatever ugliness might be evident. I've better understood how people can use the
most trying of circumstances to build an attractiveness that transcends the repulsive outer layer. Yet misunderstanding and rejection can bring agony of soul in isolation and loneliness.

Society as a whole considers physical attractiveness as paramount, and those without normal physical appearance suffer deeply with rejection. But with the help of a few kind and dedicated friends, such as Dr. Treves'
kind treatment of Merrick, there is enough connection to sustain a hurting person. With the hurried pace of life, few take the time to discover the treasures of special persons that are within ailing or disfigured bodies
and personalities.

Autobiographical performances, case histories, and qualitative research documents present the stories and perspectives of others. Seeing, hearing, and understanding the viewpoint of others enables me to grow in empathy,
care, and motivation to do my small part in "being there" with someone else in their loneliness and frustration with life. I realize that doing social research can enable others to better understand what people are going through or struggling with in their life's difficulty or situation.

Good research goes beyond the appearances of human situations or interactions to see more of the reality. The activity further encouraged me in my work to facilitate expressing and listening to the different perspective of others that reveals their heart and soul. This in turn can create a climate conducive to connecting more effectively with other human beings as opposed to facilitating polarity of viewpoint that fosters disconnectness.

The activity was productive in terms of the valuable lessons taught. It was heartening to see positive role models placed before people around the world on the Apple Corporations's educational website. I was impressed by the video streaming and the amazing positive capabilities of this relatively new technology.

I would encourage others to enrich themselves and their students by utilizing Apple's humanizing, educational website. The performance and educational instruction on the site is beneficial for who interact with it. Users of the site will be challenged by the quality and the content of the autobiographcial portrayals on the worldwide web. Finally, they will be enlightened as they see the perspective of less fortunate and/or misunderstood, disenfranchised persons.