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Joseph Carey Merrick Research Paper

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“Elephant Man”
Olivia Nowland

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Joseph Carey Merrick was born on August 5, 1862 in Leicester to Mary Jane Merrick and Joseph
Merrick. His siblings were William, John, and, Marian. Joseph Carey Merrick was born with deformities on his body, head, and even his hands. His parents said that it was caused by Mary being knocked down by an elephant at the fairgrounds while she was pregnant with Merrick. That was how Joseph Carey Merrick got his name that he is well known as, which is The Elephant Man. Merrick had a close relationship with his mother until she died when he was only eleven. She died of Bronchial Pneumonia.
Around a year later Merrick’s father remarried. Joseph left school to begin working, he rolled …show more content…

The police closed down the “Elephant Man” exhibit. Joseph Merrick’s Manager sent him to tour in Europe where he was beaten, robbed, and abandoned. In 1886 Joseph had made his way back to London unable to speak. The police searched Merrick and found Fredrick Treves business card. Treves brought Merrick to the London Hospital. Fredrick Treves decided to admit Merrick for his physical condition. Francis Carr Gomm, supported Treves idea. Merrick’s condition had worsened over the past two years. The London Hospital was not equipped to take care of an “incurable patient” so Carr Gomm talked to other hospitals and institutions no one would take Merrick. Carr Gomm put a letter in the New York Times giving an outline of Joseph Carey Merrick’s life. In result of this letter the public gave much support. This support earned enough money to get Merrick a place to spend the rest of his life in the hospital under watch by the nurses and staff. Merrick’s case attracted many people. Many people visited Merrick in the hospital and continued to give funds. One important person out of the many that visited Merrick was the Princess of Wales Alexandra. Since Merrick had so many supporters he was able to fulfill all of his desires before he died. A few thing she got to do with the money from his supporters were going to the theatre and going on vacation many times in the country. Merrick spent a lot of his time writing poetry and building a church out of playing cards. Merrick stayed in the hospital most of the time. Over time Merrick’s condition slowly worsened over the four years that he was in the London Hospital. He got a lot of care from the staff and nurses. He spent much of his time in the living quarters or in bed because of his decreased energy. His head continued to grow larger and the deformities on his head grew larger. Joseph was five feet two inches when he died. Merrick wanted to be like others but knew that he

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