David Lynch’s The Elephant Man (1980), portrays a heavily disfigured man named John Merrick who is on display as a side show freak attraction dubbed “The Elephant Man.” A local doctor named Treves hears of Merrick and pays his owner, Mr. Bytes to allow him to bring Merrick to the hospital for examinations. Treves presents Merrick to his fellow doctors and highlights his deformities which forces him to sleep almost sitting upright or else he might asphyxiate. Afterwards, Merrick is returned to Mr. Bytes who beats him so badly he needs medical attention. Treves convinces the hospital board to admit Merrick into the hospital for long term, however the hospital’s governor needs more convincing.
The scene where Merrick recites the 23rd Psalm is significant because not only because does it grant him long-term stay at the hospital, but it reveals his “human” aspect. Throughout the film, Merrick is belittled and treated as a social pariah because of his outward appearance. However, once everyone in the hospital finds out that he can speak, he is seen as a person. Similarly, in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor was so terrified by his creation–especially after his own creation killed his younger brother. However, once the creature coerced Victor into a conversation; Victor, for a brief moment, saw his creation in a different light. As the conversation continued, Victor abhorred his creation more and more, which prompts the Creature to beg him.
“‘Begone! I will not hear you. There can be no community between you and me; we are enemies. Begone, or let us try our strength in a fight, in which one must fall.’
‘How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hop can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me nothing? they spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I hail, for they are kinder to me than your fellow-beings. If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me? I will keep no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness. Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver them from an evil which it only remains for you to make so great, that not only you and your family, but thousands of others, shall be swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage. Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me. Listen to my tale: when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve. But hear me. The guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they are, to speak in their own defence before they are condemned” (100-101).
In this passage, the Creature convinces Victor to hear his tale where he justifies his own actions. He tells Victor that he is miserably lonely and wants Victor to create a woman, same as him to keep him company. Unlike the elatedness Merrick received when Treves discovered his eloquence, Victor only further abhors his creation after hearing his tale. Although Victor agreed to create a second monster, it is under threatening terms. In the end, Victor decides to cross the Creature and destroy the work.
John Merrick and Frankenstein’s Monster are similar in that they are both social outcasts. Both were pushed out of society for their grotesque appearance. Merrick was met with politeness, it has a lot to do with Treves. Treves helped him “reintegrate” into society by being his friend, while on the other hand the Creature was pushed out. Victor viewed the Creature with abhorrence, why would the public see him any differently? It is not helpful to only be able to communicate, it is also necessary to have a helpful friend.