68 pages • 2 hours read
The Elephant Man
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
89
Play • Fiction
London, England • 1880s
1979
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, Dr. Frederick Treves encounters John Merrick, a man with severe physical deformities exhibited as the "Elephant Man." Treves brings Merrick to London Hospital, where Merrick forms relationships, particularly with actress Mrs. Kendal. The play explores themes of humanity, acceptance, and self-identity as Merrick transitions from societal outcast to someone seeking his place in the world. Note: The play includes depictions of abuse and mistreatment of individuals with disabilities.
Mysterious
Emotional
Heartwarming
Melancholic
Unnerving
Reviews & Readership
11,320 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Bernard Pomerance's The Elephant Man is widely praised for its poignant exploration of human dignity and societal perceptions of physical deformity. Critics appreciate its emotional depth and complex characters, particularly the portrayal of John Merrick. However, some find the narrative occasionally melodramatic and uneven. Overall, it's a compelling and thought-provoking play.
Who Should Read The Elephant Man?
A reader who appreciates The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance would likely enjoy character-driven narratives that explore themes of humanity, identity, and compassion. Fans of works like The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo or Frankenstein by Mary Shelley would find similar emotional and philosophical depths in Pomerance's play.
11,320 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
John Merrick
John Merrick
A man with a severe physical condition who was formerly exploited in freak shows and is later brought to London Hospital, where he explores themes of humanity, acceptance, and normalcy.
Carr Gomm
Carr Gomm
The pragmatic administrator of London Hospital who views Merrick as a financial asset to the hospital and serves as a counterbalance to Treves's idealism.
Mrs. Kendal
Mrs. Kendal
A famous 19th-century actress who forms a unique and compassionate friendship with Merrick during her visits to the hospital, seeing him beyond his physical appearance.
Ross
Ross
Merrick's exploitative former manager in the freak-show circuit who presents himself as Merrick's caretaker but ultimately betrays him.
Bishop Walsham How
Bishop Walsham How
A religious figure at London Hospital who sees Christianity as the ultimate answer to humanity’s problems and works to shape Merrick’s spirituality.
Lord John
Lord John
One of Merrick’s elite visitors who turns out to be deceitful, offering a lesson in the complexities of trust and social charity.
The "Pinheads"
The "Pinheads"
Three women with microcephaly whom Merrick meets in a freak show, representing fellow outcasts, and later appear symbolically at the play's conclusion.
89
Play • Fiction
London, England • 1880s
1979
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.