The Elephant Man

The Elephant Man

• Genre: Fiction; Drama; Biographical Drama
• Originally Published: 1979
• Reading Level/Interest: Grades 10-12; College/Adult
• Structure/Length: Divided into 2 acts with 21 scenes; approximately 89 pages; approximately 2 hours of running time
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The play is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, referred to as John Merrick in the play, who lived in London during the late 19th century and was known for his extreme physical deformities. The protagonist, John Merrick, is discovered by Frederick Treves, a surgeon, who takes him under his care. The central conflict revolves around Merrick’s struggle for dignity, understanding, and acceptance in a society that sees him as abnormal.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Contains themes of exploitation and human dignity; depiction of physical deformity and the associated societal reactions; emotionally distressing scenes and cruelty; use of racially derogatory words

Bernard Pomerance, Author

• Bio: Born 1940; died 2017; American playwright; moved to London in the late 1960s; co-founded the Foco Novo theatre company in the 1970s; explores themes of human dignity and society’s outsiders in his work
• Other Works: High in Vietnam, Hot Damn (1968); Someone Else is Still Someone (1974); Quantrill in Lawrence (1979); Melons (1984)
• Awards: Tony Award for Best Play (1979); Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play (1979)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Dehumanization Through “Freakishness” and “Normalcy”
• Science Versus Religion
• Imperialism and Western Self-Superiority

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and sociological contexts related to the “human curiosities” movement of the late-19th century European empires, as it impacts the treatment of John Merrick by society in London, England, during the Victorian Era.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Dehumanization Through “Freakishness” and “Normalcy,” Science Versus Religion, and Imperialism and Western Self-Superiority.
• Prepare for and participate in a debate on the stance that Pomerance’s play takes on the division of science and religion, based on text details.