The elephant man?

Question

I was a little confused when I saw this movie. Was his mom killed by an elephant?Why is John called the Elephant man? Did he die?How did he die? I'm very anxious, so please answer my questions.

Answer 1

His mother was scared by an elephant when she was pregnant with him. That's what they thought caused his malady. It wasn't, of course. We know better now. He lived in the 1800's I think, and has died. Michael Jackson bought his skeleton.

from a website:
In 1980, David Lynch's masterpiece The Elephant Man was released. The film told the story of John Merrick, a tragically deformed yet charming and intelligent Englishman. When it hit the screens in 1980, it became a cult hit with sufferers of neurofibromatosis, the disease that the Elephant Man was thought to have had. Previously, it was though that he suffered from elephantiasis, a tropical disease causes by parasites in the bloodstream. However, it was suggested in 1979 that Merrick had Proteus syndrome or "Elephant Man's Disease", which causes abnormal, unchecked growth of bones, skin, and other systems. Fewer than 100 cases of Proteus have been recorded, while NF occurs in one in every 4,000 births. No condition has ever produced a degree of deformity equivalent to Merrick's.
Joseph Carey Merrick was born in Leicester, England in 1862. He began growing disfiguring tumors before the age of two and his condition rapidly worsened, rendering one of his arms completely useless. Nevertheless, he was described as a wonderfully imaginative and intelligent boy. When Joseph was 11, his mother, Mary Jane, who was also physically handicapped, died, and Joseph's father remarried. Joseph's stepmother was not nearly as compassionate as his mother, and she even gave Joseph's father an ultimatum: "Joseph, or me." The young Joseph was cast out of the home and went to live at the Leicester Union Workhouse, and sold shoe polish on the street. However, he was constantly taunted by crowds of cruel children and soon moved on to another line of work.

Answer 2

Was The Elephant Man Real

Answer 3

I remember the story. The "legend" was that his mother was frightened by an elephant when she was pregnant. I think she just gave him up for adoption or something.

But that's not what the problem was. He had a terrible genetic skin and bone disease. I'm not sure of the state of medical science now, but back then they certainly couldn't do anything for him.

He had many health problems and died young.

Interestingly, the doctor who showed the man such kindness was played by Anthony Hopkins, who also played the diabolical Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs. He has quite a range, indeed! Although some might argue that the characters have some similarities - delivery of lines, etc.

Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Elephant_Man_%28film%29

PS I do not believe Michael Jackson owns the elephant man's bones. He may have tried to buy them, though . . .

Answer 4

His mother getting killed by an elephant was just imagery. He was called the Elephant Man because he had a rare disease called Elephantiasis which results in uncontrolled growth of the skin and underlying tissues, resulting in elephant-like skin. The Elephant Man also had uncontrolled bone growth.

Answer 5

Sigh... he was called the Elephant Man on the account of his appearance. His mother died when John was born due to the risk of giving birth in the 19th century; when medical care was still in its infancy; nor did johns mishapened body help matters much, posing considerable risk to the mother from internal bleeding:

The director used imagery of elephants to imply that John killed his own mother, accidentally, of course, a burden that he had to carry around with him, hence the dreamlike quality which reflects his own guilt ridden mind

In the movie, John committed suicide. His large head meant that laying in certain position is highly dangerous:

I suspect the movie is fairly close to real life as David Lynch is the sort of person who would respect Johns memory, rather than pandering to Hollywood, by depicting an accurate account of Johns life. No need to be anxious. He died many years ago. His skeleton can still be seen in London.

Michael jackson didnt buy his bones, Johns skeleton remains can still be found in the Bart Hospital

Answer 6

He was called the elephant man because of the way his skin was like an elephants skin and also he had a profile of an elephant if he was behind a curtain. He died because of his disease (can' remember the name). Basically his body deteriorated and couldn't function any longer.

Answer 7

some people theory that the Elephant guy have been murdered, yet this rumor grew to become into dispelled. the actual clarification for Merrick's loss of life grew to become into asphyxiation. He had tried to sleep mendacity down, like a "regularly occurring person", and the burden of the tumors on his head and neck had overwhelmed his trachea.

Answer 8

He was called The Elephant man by the sideshow freak that kept him locked in a cage...He died in his sleep.

Answer 9

His medical problem caused his bones and skull to become mis-shapen, to some making him resemble an elephant. He died.

Answer 10

cuz he was ugly it is really an insult to elephants they are gorgeous creatures. . .