THE ELEPHANT MAN

CHAPTER SUMMARIES,
SETTING
&
CHARACTERS
The Elephant Man is based on a true story. It is the
story of the life of a man named Joseph Merrick,
who lived in England in the 19th century. The novel
presents Merrick’s life from the point where Dr
Frederick Treves discovers him until his death.
Merrick is not an ordinary man. He suffers from a
disease that causes him to be deformed. He is
called the ‘Elephant Man’. People fear him but they
pay to look at him. Dr Treves takes Merrick to the
hospital where he examines Merrick but is unable
to help. The Elephant Man disappears after that.
Two years later, Merrick turns up at the hospital.
With generous donations from the public, Merrick
gets a home at the hospital. He meets new friends
and receives a lot of books.
He leads a happy and contented life for three and a
half years. Then, in April 1890, he is found dead in
his bed. He broke his neck because he was trying to
sleep on his back like a normal person.
CHAPTER 1
THE CREATURE IN THE SHOP
Dr Frederick Treves sees a strange picture of
a man in a shop window. The man looks like an
elephant.
He pays the shopkeeper, Simon Silcock, extra money
to see the deformed man of once.
Dr Treves meets Joseph Merrick the Elephant Man in
a cold dark room at the back of the shop.
The doctor studies the deformed man’s appearance.
He is surprised that the Elephant Man’s left hand is as
beautiful as a woman’s.
Fascinated, he asks Silcock to let him take Merrick to
the London Hospital. He has to pay Silcock a sum of
money.
They discuss how to bring the Elephant Man to the
hospital without people seeing him.
CHAPTER 2
THE CARD
Early in the morning, Dr Treves brings a cab to take
Joseph Merrick to the hospital.
Merrick covers himself completely to avoid being
seen.
His misshapen body makes it difficult for him to
climb into the cab. The postman stops to help.
Dr Treves’ quick thinking saves Merrick from being
discovered. He tells the postman that Merrick is a
lady and lets him hold Merrick’s left hand which is
like a woman’s hand.
At the hospital, Dr Treves examines Merrick and
takes notes. There is nothing else he can do as a
doctor to help Merrick.
After that, he sends Merrick back to the shop.
The next day, Dr Treves discovers that the shop is
empty.
Simon Silcock and Joseph Merrick have left
London.
CHAPTER 3
LETTER TO THE TIMES
After two years, the police find Merrick abandoned on
the street. They find Treves’ card on him and take him to
the London Hospital.
The doctor wants to keep him in the hospital but the
hospital is meant for ill people and Merrick is not ill.
Dr Treves ask the Chairman of the hospital, Mr Carr
Gomm, for help.
The Chairman write to the editor of The Times
Newspaper. The Chairman tells the story of Merrick’s life
from the time Dr Treves met him and his misfortunes
after that-being cheated and abandoned by Simon
Silcock. Merrick’s mother had given him to Silcock along
time ago.
The letter describes Merrick’s ugliness but also explains
that he is an interesting man, a ‘good, quiet man’ who
‘can read and write’ and who ‘ think a lot’.
The letters asks the readers to help give Merrick a
home.
After a weeks, the hospital receives fifty thousand
pounds from king and generous people.
The hospital is now able to give Merrick a home for
the rest of his life.
CHAPTER 4
MERRICK’S FIRST
HOME
Merrick is given two rooms t the back of the hospital.
Merrick’s physical condition improves.
Dr Treves visits him every day and talks to him. He finds
out Merrick likes reading and talking about books.
Merrick is very happy although there are a few occasions
when he faces rejection from people in the hospital such
as the new nurse.
The new nurse did not know about his condition. She
brings food in one day, and is shocked and frightened by
his appearance. She drops the food on the floor and runs
out screaming. Merrick does not say anything, but Dr
Treves scolds the nurse.
Merrick expresses his wish to stay in a place that is far
way from people, such as a lighthouse or a home for
blind people, so that no one can see him.
He is sure he will not be able to stay at the hospital
for long as he has no money. When Dr Treves tells
him about the donations from the public, he is
excited and even laughs from happiness.
CHAPTER 5
AN IMPORTANT
VISITOR
Dr Treves wants to help Merrick have a normal life. He
wants him to have a normal relationship with women. He
introduces Merrick to a beautiful young woman friend.
When the woman meets Merrick and shake his hand, he
weeps. He is moved because no woman has smiled at
him like that other than his mother.
The young lady visits him again and even brings a friend
with her. Merrick is very happy to have friends and no
longer talks about living in a lighthouse.
Merrick gets a lot of visitors once people learn about him
through the newspaper. These visitors are important
ladies and gentlemen. They treat him like a human being,
not a creature, and they give him books and talk to him.
One day, he has a very important visitors. It is Queen
Alexandra. She talks to him and asks him whether he is
happy. He tells her that he is very happy.
The Queen talks to him about his books. She gives him a
little book and some red flowers before she leaves.
Merrick is so happy that he begins to sing all day.
The queen visit him regularly. On Christmas, she sends
him a card with a picture of herself as a gift.
Merrick writes to the queen-his first letter-and tells her
how happy and grateful he is.
CHAPTER 6
OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL
This chapter describes another stage in Merrick’s life.
He has a lot of friends now but he is like a child still
because he is not able to go out and learn new things.
Dr Treves takes him to the theatre to watch a children’s
Christmas play.
Merrick enjoys the play very much. He thinks that what is
acted out on stage is true. He asks questions about the
characters of the play as if they were real people.
Merrick longs to visit the countryside. One of his new
friends offers him her summer house in the country
(Apple Tree House in West Wickham). Dr Treves takes
him there, making sure no one sees him.
Merrick stays in the countryside for six weeks with no
one to disturb him. He enjoys being close to nature.
He writes to Dr Treves every week telling the doctor what
he has done.
CHAPTER 7
THE LAST LETTER
Six months after his summer holiday in April 1890, Dr
Treves finds Merrick dead in his bed.
Merrick normally slept sitting in bed with his heavy head
on his knees. That night, he wanted to sleep on his back
like a normal person. When his heavy head slipped off
the bed, his neck broke.
The next day, the Chairman of the London Hospital, Mr
Carr Gomm, writes to the editor of the newspaper again.
He recounts what happened three and a half years age
when he wrote about the sad story of the Elephant man
He tells the editor about Merrick’s death. He also informs
the editor that money left over will be given to the
hospital.
PLACE
The story is set in London, England

London, England in the 19th century

 PLACE KEY EVENTS
A shop near the London • Dr Frederick Treves sees
Hospital a photo of the Elephant
Man in the shop window.
• He pays Simon Silcock
12 pence to see the
Elephant man.
• The doctor meets the
Elephant Man, Joseph
Merrick, in a back room
of the shop. The room is
cold and dark.
The London • Dr Treves brings the Elephant man to
Hospital the hospital and examines him
carefully. Before sending him back to
the shop, Dr Treves gives him his card.
• Two years after that, the polica find
the homeless Merrick and bring him
to the hospital.
• Merrick stays in two rooms at the
back of the hospital. His new home is
paid for by the donations from the
readers of The Times newspaper.
The Theatre • Dr Treves takes Merrick to the theatre
to watch a children’s Christmas play.
• Merrick watches the play from a box
at the side of the theatre, hidden
from view behind three nurses.
• Merrick enjoys the play very much. He
thinks the play is real.

A box in a theatre during the 19th century

The house in • A friend offers Merrick the
country-Apple country house to stay for the
Tree House in summer. The house is a quiet
West Wickham place surrounded by trees,
flowers and a stream nearby.
• Merrick stays here for six
weeks. He enjoys being close
to nature and is very happy
here. He makes friends with
the wild birds and a stray dog.
• Merrick writes to Dr Treves
every weeks to tell him about
his experience in the country.
TIME
The story in the novel takes place between the
time Dr Treves discovers joseph Merrick in 1884
and Merrick’s death in April, 1890.
This time frame is within the period known as
the Victorian era.
The Times was the most important newspaper
during this period.
England was a peaceful and wealthy country.
Industry became more important than
agriculture.
During this time, the medical field was not as
advanced as today. The doctors did not know what
caused Joseph Merrick to become so disfigured.

A scene showing the lower and middle class on a busy street in London in
the 19th century.
SOCIAL
During the Victorian era:
people were divided according to their social class-
upper, middle and lower class
a lot of people moved to the city of London to work
in factories
more people became educated-doctors , lawyers
and engineers formed the middle class
people had the money and time to enjoy leisure
activities such as reading literature and going to the
theatre
people feared and made fun of those who were
different- e.g. little boys ran after Merrick and hit
his; he was arrested by the police because people
were afraid of his ugliness.
MAIN CHARACTERS
JOSEPH MERRICK
Also known as the Elephant Man-huge head with very little
hair; skin hanging down from the neck, face and back; big red
tooth sticks out of his mouth; mouth and nose are like holes;
right hand is like a man’s foot; left hand is beautiful; legs are
big and fat; back is crooked
Discovered by Dr Treves at 25 years old; dies at 31
Suffers from a disease that causes his body to be deformed; is
put on show for people who pay to see him up close
Fears people and people fear him
Loves reading and talking about books
Persevering ang patient, friendly, simple-minded and child-like,
forgiving and grateful, loves nature, loyal and loving,
intelligent.
Character Traits Example of Textual Evidence
Preserving and - Has to bear with ill-treatment because of his
patient ugliness – Simon Silcock shouts at him and hits
him (page 5); ‘…people are afraid at him’, ‘the
police get angry…’ and put him in prison (page
7-8)
- Does not complain though ‘most things are
difficult for me’ (page 12)
- Is not angry when the new nurse screams and
runs away – know that people fear him and
dislike looking at him – ‘I understand that.’
(page 18)
Friendly - Make friend easily with people and animals
- Has many visitors who enjoy talking with him –
Carr Gomm tells the editor of The Times that
Merrick has a lot of friends who ‘liked to talk to
him’ (page 38)
- Tell Dr Treves in a letter that he has become
friends with birds and a stray dog in the
countryside
 - ‘Lots of birds little birds come near me … One
… sat on my hand’ (page 34)
- ‘I met a big dog … It likes me now’ (page 34)
Simple – minded - Does what he is told without asking questions –
and child like lets Dr Treves examine him at the hospital
without asking why (page 13)
- Thinks that the characters in the books he reads
are real (page 19)
- As observed by Dr Teves ‘He thought and played
like a child (page 30)
- Believes the story at the theater is true and
wonders what the characters do after the play
is over (page 31)
Forgiving and - Still keeps his mother’s picture even though she
grateful gave him away (pages 16,20)
- Thankful to Dr Treves and nurses – ‘makes
things with his hands and gives them to the
nurses because they are kind to him
 - Happy that the doctor’s young woman friend
smiled at him and shook his hand (page 24)
- Tells Queen Alexandra that he is happy to have
a home at hospital, friends and his books – ‘
I’m happy every hour of the day!’ (page 27)
- Writes a letter to thank the Queen for her
Christmas car
Loves nature - Likes flower
- When Dr Treves meets him in the dark room in
the shop, there is a dead flower on the table in
front of him (page 3)
- There is a flower on the table on the table in
front of him. (page 20)
- He puts the red flowers Queen Alexandra gives
him on the table
- He puts lots of flowers in his room in the
country house (page 34)
- Spends most of his time with nature during his
stay in the country, making friends with birds
and watching fish in the stream
Loyal and loving - Signs off his letters ‘With all my love’ to the
Queen and ‘With love from your friend’ to Dr
Treves
- Tells Dr Treves that he want to see the doctor
soon during his summer holiday, meaning that
he misses his friend
- Enjoys his holiday but he is also happy to be
back with his friends and books at the hospital
(page 35
Intelligent - Was given away at a young age to Silcock and
probably did not have the chance to go to
school much, but is able to write good letters
and enjoy books (page 16)
 DR FREDERICK TREVES
- A doctor at the London Hospital
- The narrator of the story
- Helps the Elephant Man to get a home
- Introduces Merrick to society and helps him to have
more normal life
- Curious, observant, polite, smart, kind-hearted and
understanding, helpful
Character Traits Example of Textual Evidence
Curious - Stops to look at the picture of the Elephant Man
in the shop window (page 1)
- Willing to pay more to see the Elephant Man
immediately (page 2)
- Wants to look at the Elephant Man more closely
– arranges to fetch him to the hospital (page 7)
Observant - Notices everything about the Elephant Man –
his appearance as well as physical condition e.g.
the cloth over his head because of the cold, the
difference between the right and left hand, the
way the Elephant Man walks, his bad back
(pages 4-5)
Polite - Speak courteously even though the shopkeeper
and Elephant Man are rude to him
- he says ‘please’ (pages 2,6)
- ‘thank you’ (page 5)
- ‘I’m sorry’ for not realising that the Elephant
Man has a problem climbing into the cab (page
10)
Smart - Saves the Elephant Man from being laughed at
when he is getting into the cab – tells the
postman that he is a lady who is ill (pages 10-11)
- Closes the cab door quickly to prevent the
curious boys from seeing the Elephant Man’s
face (page 11)
- Asks the Chairman of the hospital for help with
Merrick (page 15)
- Fixes things so that Merrick can watch the
Christmas play at the theatre and also go to the
without being seen (pages 30, 32)
Kind- - Stops Silcock from making the Elephant Man
hearted and walk across the room because he can see how
understanding difficult it is for Merrick – ‘Let him sit down.’
(page 5)
- Knows how the Elephant Man feels and tries to
spare him from being laughed at e.g. when they
are getting onto the cab to go to the hospital
 - Visit Merrick every day and talks to him (page
18) – does not want Merrick to feel lonely and
he introduces his young woman friend to him
(page 23)
- Gets angry when people laugh at the Elephant
Man (page 30)
- Treats the poor ugly Elephant Man like a normal
person – Merrick says ‘You are a kind man, Dr
Treves ‘ (page 21)
Helpful - Finds a way to get the money to give Merrick a
home (page 18)
Makes arrangements for Merrick to fulfill his
wish to go to the country (page 32)
 MINOR CHARACTERS
Simon - Collects money from people who want to see the
Silcock Elephant Man
- ‘a dirty man in an old coat with a cigarette in his mouth’
(page 2)
- Takes the Elephant Man ‘all over the country’ (page 6)
to put him up for show
- Impatient and cruel – speaks angrily to Merrick for no
reason, and hits him
- Rude – rudely tells Treves to come back next day: ‘Well,
you cant,’ he said. The shop’s closing now’ (page 2);
speaks rudely to Merrick: Come on, quickly, move!’
(page 5)
- Greedy – asks for 12 pence when Treves insists on
seeing the Elephant Man immediately (page 2); he
wants more money to let Merrick go to the hospital
(page 7)
- Dishonest – He takes the 50 pounds Merrick earns in
Belgium, and abandons Merrick on the street (page 15)
Carr - The Chairman of the London Hospital
Gomm - smart – as soon as Dr Treves tells him about the
Elephant Man, Gomm writes a letter to The Times
newspaper to ask the readers for help. In his letter,
Gomm gives all the important information about
Merrick that will touch the hearts of the readers, such
as how he was cheated by Silcock, how he still
remember his mother who abandoned him, and what
an interesting and good person he is (pages 15-16)
- Responsible – writes another letter to the newspaper to
inform them of Joseph Merrick’s death and what will
happen to the money left from their donations (page
38)
Queen - The Queen of England, who takes an interest in the
Alexandra Elephant Man
- Become friends with the Elephant Man
- Kind-hearted – Willing to be friend the ugly Elephant
Man and treats Merrick with respect like a normal
person
- Thoughtful – Sends Merrick a card and a picture of
herself as a gift, which makes Merrick very happy
Beautiful - Dr Treves’ friend, who willingly meets Merrick
Young - Smiles at Merrick, kindly and shakes his hand – for the
Woman first time, a woman treat him kindly
- Continues to visit him and even brings her friends
along (page 24)
Postman - Helpful – Stops to help Merrick climb into the cab
(page 11)
MRS - Kind lady from the theatre
KENDAL - Helps arrange for Merrick to watch play at the theatre
- Lets Merrick enter the theatre through the special
entrance for the Queen so that no one can see Merrick