RECOGNITION
Illustration★★★★Christine Spark’s inspiring biography, “The Elephant Man,” tells the story of John Merrick, a victim of neurofibromatosis, an incurable disease which causes hideous disfigurement, great pain and premature death. Adding to John Merrick’s misery was the popular belief, in late eighteenth-century London, that the disease was caused by some lapse of morality on the part of the victim. Dr. Frederich Treves, a senior surgeon at the prestigious London Hospital, discovered the terribly mistreated Merrick in a circus freak show.
Dr. Treves took John Merrick into his per- sonal care and began to work with him. Merrick’s sensitive and caring personality began to shine through and, in time, the Elephant Man gained notoriety. Even the Prince and Princess of Wales paid him a visit.
Money was raised on Merrick’s behalf to provide him with books, a teacher and craft lessons. One day the beautiful actress Madge Kendall discovered the Elephant Man through friends.
Kendall was deeply moved by Merrick’s condition and was determined to help. At their first meeting, Madge Kendall presented him with the complete works of William Shakespeare. Tears welled up in his eyes as he began reading aloud from “Romeo and Juliet”: See how she leans her cheek upon her hand: O’ that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek.
The point
John Merrick, the Elephant Man, was discovered in a freak show by Dr. Treves who gave him medical care and human dignity; when actress Madge Kendall presented him with Shakespeare's complete works and he wept reading Romeo and Juliet, it illustrated how recognition and dignity can transform a life.