Discuss your reaction to the Elephant Man considering the behavior of the following characters:
Bytes
Treves
The night guard
In the beginning of the film, a police officer who is closing Bytes's show down says, "freaks are one thing, but this..." suggesting that displaying John Merrick as a circus attraction is inhumane because he is worse than a freak.
The night guard says he is happy about what he did and feels no shame for his abuse of John Merrick.
Treves asks if he is a good man or a bad man.
And Bytes...
What are your thoughts? Reactions? How do you feel?
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My reaction about the elephant Man is very positive. Dr. Treves treats Merrick with great respect and learns that Merrick is very intelligent and did not like his previous life. Merrick did not like Bytes who constantly beat him and forced him to show off to large crowds laughing at him and mocking him. When Bytes steals Merrick back, he is even worse, by making him do "tricks" that he is unable to do becuase he is dying. Bytes beats Merrick even more and Merrick is eventually saved by the other "freaks" who realize that Bytes treatment towards Merrick is wrong. When the police officer says "freaks are one thing, but this..." suggests that Merrick is not even human and that he is even a lower person in society than the rest of the freaks. I dislike the night guard at the hospital becuase he treats Merrick horribly at night when Dr. Treves is not there to protect him. The night that the Night Guard and Bytes kidnap Merrick, they abuse him, they get him drunk, have sex with the girls they brought, etc. Even when he shows no emotion when Dr. Treves yells at him the next morning about kidnapping Merrick is even worse becuase he does not want to help Merrick or Dr. Treves, Merrick was just a comedy act for him.
ReplyDeleteI thought Bytes was the animal in this situation. He made a show out of a mans disfigurements and thought it was all a joke. When Merrick says that he was a man, it was the truth because he had the heart of a man and Bytes had the heart of an animal because he preyed on Merricks disability. Treves on the other hand was very kind to Merrick even though he sometimes got very upset with him because he barely spoke. The night guard was very disrespectful towards Merrick because he also thought that Merrick was an animal and they can torture him because the night guard is better than him and has every right to do what he pleases.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Bytes and the night gaurd were pretty much the same person. they both treated merrick horrible and didnt acknolage him as a human being. In fact it seems as though they didnt even consider him to be a living creature at all but more like an object to be put on display for profit. Treves on the other hand is certainly a good man. he was always kind to merrick and always treated him as an equal. Treves may have origionally been planning on just using merrick as a display for his own personal gain but when he was called in to examine merrick's bronchitis, he sees the deplorable conditions he is subject to and vows to never let merrick return to that life. From that point on treves does everything in his power to care for merrick and to live a happy and fulfilling life, making him a very good man.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though the night gaurd and Bytes were inhumane. They treated the Elephant man cruely becuase of a rare disease. Dr Treves began a study on Merrick, but he began a relationship with him, and realized he is, infact, a human being with feelings. After watching this film, i learned an important lesson, that there is always hope. John Merrrick struggled with a deformity of his apperance as well as his health. However, he over came these obstacles and began new friendships, and became proud of himself, especially at the theatre. Due to John's heroic acomplishment, he shows viewers to never give up on anything, no matter how hard the challenge.
ReplyDeleteBytes as a person confused me. At first I thought that he cared for Merrick and wanted him to be safe. It soon became apparent that he beat Merrick for seemingly no reason whatsoever. However, even when Treves took him Bytes told him to take care of Merrick. Overall I thought that Bytes, while confusing, only wanted to make a profit off of another's misfortune. He disgusted my completely by how he treated Merrick and even his own, I think, son. Treves first used Merrick to show and gain recognition. He, however, soon came to care for and befriend Merrick. As a person he was one of the best because he was worried that he was wrong. That is proof that he wanted to do the right thing for Merrick. The night guard was just a terrible human being. He saw Merrick not as a person, or even a freak, but as an animal. He showed no remorse for practically torturing him and hurting him and cared for only money. I can only say that I was profoundly satisfied when he was hit over the head and knocked out.
ReplyDeleteTheres always profit to be made on the misfortune of others. Bytes and the Night watchman understood this quite well, and took full advantage of it. Bytes essentially enslaved Merrick so that he could be gawked at by the heartless public. While Bytes may have shown small bits of compassion towards John at times, it simply isn't enough to make me not feel he was a wretch of a man. Only the Night Watchman was worse than Bytes, for he was completely incapble of accepting the fact like him John to was human. He saw John as something even lower than an animal for him to make a quick profit off of its suffering. Even when confronted about the issue he was still unable to accept he had done anything wrong. While Treves may have saved John and confronted the Watchman we must not so quickly forget he had first planned on using John for his own gain. While this may not have been as bad as the previous two indivuals, it shows a persistent theme of human beings always looking out for their own personal gain, before the welfare of others.
ReplyDeleteZack
Bytes and the night watchmen took money of the disfigurements and the inhumane traits of others. bytes was the master of John treating him like a slave, keep him in a dark room shunned from the public and the other acts, until performance. However, the night watchman is worse then Bytes because unlike Bytes who treated John as a human, the watchman could care less, if it means to make a quick buck. when Treves questions the watchman, he claims he did nothing wrong becuase he is a freak upon society, which he could profit off of. I personnal loved the movie, depsite the huge year factor from today and which the movioe was made the theme of the film is still used todya in real life where people are always looking out for number one, themselves and not caring about the misfortune
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the Elephant Man and the characters around him where all attracted to the money that could be brought in through him. Bytes constantly beat and harrassed John to the point where he needed to go to the hospital and be treated for the wounds. The night watch man did the same by allowing people to come in and see the Elephant Man while in the hospital. The night watch had people pay him and then they could see John. The night watch and Bytes used John as a way for them to get money, not thinking about the harm they might do to John physically and mentally. When Treves first asks the question "is he a good man or bad man?", this shows how Treves thinks hes a monster and doesn't know how to react to him. I feel that disfigured or not, John Merrick is a human and needed to be treated equally no matter what is wrong with him.
ReplyDeleteI think that all the characters used John for personal gain. It just so happens that Treves’s method of using him was good for John. The night guard and Bytes used John for money and attention; Treves used John for medical reasons. In the end though, I believe that John and Treves formed a relationship that completed John's life, where as the other two were just cold hearted to the poor man. To me, this movie displays the natural instinct of humans to control those weaker than them in order to better themselves through any means necessary, even if its grotesquely inhumane.
ReplyDeleteI think that Bytes is the true animal in this situation he uses Merrick for money and never once considers that he could have feelings. He cruelly manipulates Merrick, and tries to convince him that a life in the circus is the only way for him to live. Bytes has turned Merrick into a freak, when really he is in need of medical attention. Bytes knows that Merrick does not belong in the freak show but he is too greedy to let Merrick leave. Bytes takes advantage of a sick man who would do anything for a friend. The night guard also uses Merrick for his personal gain; selling tickets to see Merrick in the hospital and helping Bytes kidnap him back to the circus. Although he is not as bad a Bytes, the night guard should not have treated Merrick like he was some kind of show to be seen. In the beginning Treves only helps Merrick to study him, to further his research and become a better doctor but, as Treves spends more time with Merrick he realizes that he is actually a person and not a science experiment. Treves spends time getting to know Merrick and finds out that he is intelligent and personable, that he can talk and can form relationships. Treves allows Merrick to break free of his former self and become a new person. With Treves’s help Merrick forms friendships with the nurses and can fulfill his dream of going to the theater. I think that Treves was the best thing to happen to Merrick and that his life changed dramatically from just one person realizing that he is a human too.
ReplyDeleteBytes: Is a slefish person who seems not to care about anyone but himslef. He is only worried about his well being and not the well being of John. Bytes is only worried about the profit that he can make off of John, instead of being worried about his health. I think that if it were the other way around with out a doubt Bytes would not feel so good about it anymore. He would be able to see the pain that he has inflicted on JOhn. Bytes consideres John to be inhumane and more of an animal insted of a human being which is what he is. John only has defects that are not his fault. He did not choose to be that way, it was just how he had been born, and for Bytes to take advantage of him is not right at all.
ReplyDeleteTreves: At first is only in it for his medical research, then soon comes to realzie that John Merick is more than just a study case. In fact John is a lot more smarter than he assumed. Treves begins to help John, giving him a room to sleep in so he can be away from Bytes. Also Treves helps John on his speech and gives him some confidence that he did not have before. John becomes less of a medical project and more of a human being in the eyes of Dr.Treves.
Niht Guard: He simply uses Merrick to make a profit. He allows people to go into Johns room and see him. People would give him the money and they were able to eneter. Not only his the Night Guard wrong but the people are as well. Why should any human being be treated in such a way. The Guard should have let him be, it was already bad enough that he had left that enviornment at the circus, but now at the hospital where he is suppose to be protected he is being treated in the same manner.
My reaction to the Elephant Man was different than I thought it would be. At first the movie seemed boring and lifeless, but then I found it to be interesting and full of life lessons. Bytes was a horrible man who took John Merrick's disfigurement as a way to collect money. He made John feel worthless and like an animal. In the movie, Bytes finds John Merrick where Dr. Treves is taking care of him, and steals him back to bring him to the circus. John is beaten and then falls in front of the crowd and Bytes is booed. Bytes becomes furious and puts John in a cage with monkeys. The circus "freaks" rescue John and John finds Dr Treves again. This is important because John finally realizes he is not an animal he is a man. Dr. Treves is a man who finds John Merrick and becomes fascinated by what he has seen. He teaches John to speak to others and be polite to them. He is John's mentor in the movie and makes John feel loved. Dr. Treves teaches me that helping another person, makes you a better person in return. The night guard is a greedy man who only thinks about money. He brings a group of people into John Merrick's room and torments him. He makes girls kiss him, pours alcohol all over him, and puts him over his shoulder to jump around. John Merrick is helpless in this situation and because of what the night guard did, he let in Bytes who kidnaps him. I learned from this night guard that hurting people to benefit yourself is unacceptable. Even though John Merrick has had a horrible life of torment, Dr. Treves helps him regain happiness before his death.
ReplyDeleteThough I was not able to see the entire movie, I am able to make judgements about the characters. Because at the beginning of the movie, Bytes uses John Merrick as a freak show in the circus, I am able to infer that Bytes is the antagonist in the film. He is a wicked man who only wants to benefit his business at the circus. The night gaurd is not much better than Bytes is, too. The night gaurd allows people to pay to see the Elephant Man and I think this is a very cruel thing to do. He makes a fool out of Merrick and it is a shame to see someone with such disabilities be made into a monster. No one in the film treats Merrick as well as Treves does ... he is not only Merrick's doctor, but his dear friend as well. He introduces Merrick to many new things, including the woman from the theater later on in the film. Treves is most certainly a protagonist in the film ... (Merrick being one as well). In my opinion, John definately would not have survived if not for Treves protecting him and caring about him.
ReplyDeleteAt first, Bytes, the night guard, and Treves are all considered inhumane. They all treat John as if he is an animal and unworthy of love. To explain, Treves first uses John for science. He displays John in a presentation and makes him take off his clothes in front of a crowd of observers. Bytes uses John as a circus act and beats him if he is unhappy with John's performance. He does not care that John is unhealthy and even captures John back from the hospital to better himself and make money in the circus. the night guard uses John to make money as well as Bytes. He brings people up to John's room to look at him and make fun of him.
ReplyDeleteNone of these men have the right intention in the beginning. They all treat John as if he is a creature rather than a human being. Treves is the only man that finds the good in John and realizes that John is no different than anyone else. He helps him to speak again and gives him a comfort that he has never felt before. With all of the torture John has gone through, he finally feels worthy of greatness from his friendship with Dr. Treves. It was difficult for me to watch this video, because of the pain and torture John was put through. It was terrible to see how cruel society can be to a person who may look different than the norm.
I think that Bytes, Treves, and the night guard are all at fault in this situation. I think that Bytes was extremly inhumane though. Bytes made a profit out of John. He treated him poorly and as an animal. He beat John up and kept him locked up in a cage. He did not truly care for the well-being of John, but only the profit he could make off of him. John needed true care and medical attention because of his situation, but Bytes did not allow John to do so because he was considered part of his freak show. Bytes' inhumane behavior is very disrespectful and is not appropriate in any way.
ReplyDeleteThe Night Guard also treats John very poorly. He tries to make a profit out of John and exposes him to very harmful people. The people that the night guard expose him to make John drink, force girls on him and push him around the room. The night guard does not respect John's privacy or humanity and also treats him like an attraction. The night guard's behavior is very unacceptable and should not be allowed.
treves thinks that he has the best interest of John, however, he also treats him like an attraction. He wants to take John in to examine him, for his own interests. He then allows people to come in and out of the hospital to visit John. After Treves gets to know John, he realizes how badly he is treating him. He realizies that John is not an animal or an attraction, he is a human.
In the movie Elephant Man, my reaction was some what confused. I couldn't understand how one could treat another so poorly. They treated John Merrick as if he were an animal. Dr. Treves was the only person who i believed treated John with respect. He took him to the hospital trying to cure him and figure out what was really wrong with him. Dr Treves also cares for him as if he is his own child and becomes very protective. Bytes, the original owner of John Merrick, was a pure villian. He completely took advantage of John and his deformaties. This was cruel and he benefitted from his looks. Also, the nightgaurd was evil as well. He profitted off of the Elephant man while he was supposed to protect him. This was ridiculous and inhumane to treat a human being this way. He was torchered and Dr. Treves picks him up from his lowest point and shows him how great and wonderful he really is.
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