...The Elephant Man very much reminded me of the episode of The Twilight Zone when the pig people find the gorgeous woman and are completely disgusted by her. Similarly, this happens when Merrick and Treves switch realities and Treves suddenly becomes the odd creature to be studied and examined. Here Pomerance has easily show the reader what prejudice can look like. The world was only judging Merrick on his look and not his personality, so when switched with Treves, the reader clearly understands the wrongdoing. Merrick represents so many people in modern society. He represents the outcasts, misfits, and every minority group known to man. Black men and women, Hispanic men and women, the LGBTQIA community, and on and on. These people have felt the weight of oppression in America for a very long time, similarly to how no matter where Merrick went, he too faced hatred. No one ever took a moment to speak with Merrick and understand that he had a friendly, caring, compassionate soul....
Words: 420 - Pages: 2
...The Elephant Man English 225 Introduction To Film 11/3/2012 I chose to critique the film “The Elephant Man” it is an iconic filmmaking endeavor. Director David Lynch shows the sadness and the scariness of deformities onto the audience in a way that touches your heart and leaves you with a sense of sadness and will also leave a tear in your eye. Most of the people who have watched this film are touched and completely changes the way they view crippled, weak, and deformed people in this world. The start of this film begins with Joseph Merrick’s incredible story being written into a play by Bernard Pomerance in 1979. This play is actually still performed from time to time and a wonderful play to see. Lynch’s film version was released the following year, and was not obtained from the play but it did give David Lynch his inspiration. Lynch based his film version of Merrick’s life on various biographical sources most of which were Merrick’s own words in his memoirs. The script, written by Lynch, contains information based upon Merrick’s memoirs and biography, as well as from Frederick Treves’ personal accounts. As far as historical accuracy is concerned, certain details have been altered to make the story suitable for film. For example, Merrick is referred to incorrectly as “John“. This inaccuracy is however, a perpetuation of the error that was made in history according to Frederick Treves’ account of the story. Lynch in an effort to maintain realism botches the name...
Words: 807 - Pages: 4
...character flaw can be used to analyze works, and the characters within them. One such example is within The Elephant Man, a character named Treves. Through his own strivings for accomplishments, he not only leads the protagonist Merrick, down a disappointing path, but also harms his place in society and Merrick's as well. Treves is first made aware of Merrick, when he is hired by the London Hospital. Treves, full of confidence, is assigned Merrick, a horribly disfigured man, in hopes of treating him, or helping him integrate into society. This is when Treves' hubris becomes a driving force for his actions. Treves is warned by Gomm, his superior to count his blessing, and offers his apologies for what his task will do to his life. However Treves is filled with hubris, and declares," A scientist in an age of science. In an English Age, an Englishman. A...
Words: 822 - Pages: 4
...When a character in literature wishes for its own good, the result of the accomplishment will have a huge impact on their life and moral values. The Elephant Man, has a protagonist, John Merrick, he was inborn with disabilities. Since his birth, he only desired one element from nature; to be accepted by others. A few characters in the the book were accepting Merrick as normal, but if you look through them and from the their heart, they have not taken Merrick as normal. Throughout the book, the author does not show Merrick’s feelings, it does not mean that he did not have a heart. The author did not show Merrick’s feelings because before he met Treves and other characters, everyone stared at Merrick like he was an alien, and he has already...
Words: 855 - Pages: 4
...Theme and Narrative Elements in Hills like White Elephants Lila Wright ENG 125 Kendall Shearman October 2, 2014 Theme and Narrative Elements in Hills like White Elephants In the short story Hills like White Elephants, symbols are other narrative elements are used to illuminate the theme by stirring feelings in the reader, heightening the conflict, or creating a certain mood while reading the story. Theme in a story is a representation of the idea behind the story (Clugston, 2014). In Hills like White Elephants the theme of meaningless is contributed to many literary elements, in which setting, symbols, and characters will be discussed in this paper. In Hills like White Elephants, the story is primarily a conversation between an American man and a girl nicknamed Jig. The rift between the two characters is shown by the way the course of the conversation, in which it is merely just talking because neither of the characters is truly communicating with the other. Both the American man and the girl are talking but not listening to the other’s point of view. Although it is not mentioned by name, the operation they speak of is an abortion. The American man is frustrated and tries to convince the girl, his girlfriend, to have the operation anyway he can. He tells her things will go back to the way they used to be if she has the abortion. The girl’s mind keeps changing and she ends up telling him at one point that she will do it just to get him to shut up. After he still persists...
Words: 1352 - Pages: 6
...Elephant In “Shooting an Elephant,” Orwell finds himself in a difficult situation involving an elephant. The elephant’s life depends all on one decision Orwell must make, to shoot the elephant or let him be. I agree with Orwell’s final decision to shoot the elephant for a few reasons. One reason being of the situation he was placed in from the beginning, being a figure of authority in an area of people that mostly hate you and torment you on a daily bases. He had to prove himself in front of the natives. Shooting an elephants is something that he did not want to do but was pressured by the people to do so. He says “ Here I was the white man with this gun, standing in front of the unarmed crowd-seemingly the leading actor of the piece; but in reality I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces behind.” He had no choice but to shoot the elephant with everyone there watching and staring at him. He felt their gaze on him and knew what he had to do. He couldn’t walk away without firing a shot at the elephant, without killing him. He was the center of attention and everyone was waiting for his next move and the only move they wanted to see was the elephant fall. Another reason, which he justifies himself, is that the elephant killed a man. Even if that man was just a Coringhee coolie, he was still a man. It was the legal and right thing to do. He couldn’t have a mad elephant running around. Granted Orwell could have gone another path like he discussed...
Words: 360 - Pages: 2
...Indecisive: Essay on “Hills like White Elephants” Communication is often mistaken by just talking and talking. We interrupt, advise, reassure, judge, analyze, criticize, etc. But, good communication requires good listening as well as talking. In the story “Hills like White Elephants” what seems to be the cause of the characters dispute is that neither of them can express themselves clearly to one another. Although the story is basically a conversation between the American man and the girl (Jig), both have a point to say but does not understand each other. Mainly because the man has his mind set on convincing Jig to take the operation no matter what and that if Jig takes his option, their lives will go back to the way it was before. In the beginning Jig described the child she is bearing as a “white elephant” meaning, something not wanted. As the story progresses Jig then realizes that the child is not totally a white elephant. But she is not certain that if she took the man’s option, their life would be the same as he says. Jig does not directly says that she wants keep the child. Though she was giving small hints to the man but the man ignores this little action. Alcohol played a big part in the story. They needed alcohol because the characters think that this will help them discuss their dispute or avoid discussing what they need to discuss. When Jig stated “I want to try this new drink. That's all we do isn't it- look at things and try new drinks?” She is as if accusatory...
Words: 588 - Pages: 3
...Why did he shoot the elephant? There are many different reasons as to why George Orwell chose to shoot the Elephant in the short story, ”Shooting an Elephant”. In the following essay, there will be a wide and deep response of why George Orwell chose to shoot the elephant in the end. The first and primary reason for George Orwell shooting the elephant is simply Orwell being afraid. He was originally not intending to shoot the elephant; he merely brought the rifle for his own protection. “I had no intention of shooting the elephant – I had merely sent for the rifle to defend myself if necessary – and it is always unnerving to have a crowd following you. I marched down the hill, looking and feeling a fool, with the rifle over my shoulder and an ever-growing army of people jostling at my heels” . This quote first of all shows that Orwell actually did not intend the shooting of the elephant. It also shows the pressure he is being held upon by the Burmese crowd. It might seem a bit strange that Orwell feels pressured, as he is the superior and the Burmese is the inferior, but the thing is, Orwell is pressured because he is in fact the one without power in this situation. He is being laughed at and ridiculed buy the locals, which of course touches his emotions and he is greatly outnumbered by the thousand man crowd. So in reality a part of the cause of George Orwell shooting the elephant is social motives. Being pressured by the Burmese is not his only motive; Orwell also wants to...
Words: 752 - Pages: 4
...We have different identities based on our difference of cultural, ethnic, racial and religious. These identities will affect how we see ourselves since we might have different responsibilities, job duties and backgrounds. Like inside two literature stories Shooting an Elephant and Everyday Use, Alice Walker and George Orwell both show how identity is connected to how we see ourselves in the present. In the story Shooting an Elephant, the main character is a policeman in British Burma. He received a report about a local man was death who killed by an elephant. When he arrived the place, he finds the elephant is no longer dangerous. He knows as a humanity, he shouldn’t kill the elephant since it does not cause a threat anymore. Also, “it is comparable to destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery, and obviously one ought not to do it if it can possibly be avoided” (George Orwell, P.818). However, as a British Burma’s policeman, he knows he need to kill the...
Words: 1008 - Pages: 5
...of Shooting an Elephant The article “Shooting an Elephant,” by George Orwell seeks to address how imperialism is evil. First, it humiliates the imperialized people, reducing them to inferior status in their own county. Second, it provokes the people into making immoral decisions to maintain their superiority over everyone else. When a white man becomes a tyrant, it is his own freedom that he loses. In Moulmein, in lower Burma, the author is a hated, sub-divisional police officer. One day something happened that helped him understand the real motives for which despotic governments act. He received a phone call, from the sub-inspector at the police station, about a normally tame elephant who starting behaving aggressively and unpredictably. White men are not supposed to be afraid in front of the “natives,” therefore, he goes against his own conscience to protect himself and his fellow imperialists. In the article, Orwell demonstrates how he loses his freedom to prove his intelligence and morals. When he stumbles upon the elephant eating, he refers to it as looking no more dangerous than a cow, and is no longer showing signs of hostility. He strongly believes the elephant’s “must” is declining; therefore, he does not feel the desire to kill it, but he has no choice. He is a man with authorities over the people and cannot allow the others to see him as a weak man. Therefore, his tyrant situation makes him choose to go against is conscious and kill the elephant. Orwell’s decision...
Words: 1068 - Pages: 5
... “Shooting an Elephant” Background Eric Arthur Blair is the real name of the author in “Shooting an Elephant.” George Orwell was Blair’s pen name. He was born June 25th, 1903 in Motihari, India and died January 21st, 1950 in London, United Kingdom. His role models include Charles Dickens and Aldous Huxley. The British novelist and essayist also became a teacher at Hawthorns High School in Hayes, West London in April of 1932. Orwell’s publications include Burmese Days (1934), Animal Farm: A Fairy Story (1945), Why I Write (1946), and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949). His work mainly focuses on controversial topics, such as imperialism, fascism, and...
Words: 793 - Pages: 4
...Shooting an elephant ”Shooting an elephant” is an essay written by George Orwell and published in 1936. The text is told by a first person narrator, who tells us about being a policeman in Burma and about his doubt, whether to kill an animal or not. The man who tells us the story is an unhappy young policeman who lives in mental isolation. He hates British imperialism, he hates Burmese natives, and he hates his job. He feels like a target for the Burmese people. The natives are treating him very badly; they are making fun of the white man. They laugh at the protagonist and sneer at him when he passes them. “In the end the sneering yellow faces of young men that met me everywhere, the insults hooted after me when I was at a safe distance, got badly on my nerves.” We still don’t get the impression that the narrator hates the natives, we get the feeling that he understand them. He puts himself into the same positions as they are; he is in the same position- also oppressed and hated, but cause by his own nation’s occupation. The Indians are also oppressed by the British and the white man. The story is written in a period where England had colonies all over the world. The British are trying to make an empire far away from home; they conquer other countries and try to assimilate the population to their own rules and traditions. The white man has an thought, that they are the chosen people to civilize primitive races. They are clever, educated, and rich and therefore...
Words: 1048 - Pages: 5
...Self-Reflection The Iceberg Theory, also known as the “theory of omission”, was created by American writer Ernest Hemingway. In his theory, Hemingway states that a good way to attract the reader is to depict in a single representative scene the entire story through subtext from which the reader then deduces the drama (Wood 1). His use of the Iceberg Theory was presented clearly in the short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” in which Hemingway depicted a vague conversation between a man and a woman named Jig. By only portraying the surroundings such as the hills and the station, as well as providing the short conversation, Hemingway has given the reader a chance to be the narrator to self-interpret the couple’s feelings and thoughts as well as to infer the drama the couple was facing of whether or not Jig would get an abortion. Hemingway used three main symbols which were the hills, the white elephant and the railroad station to develop the theme of the whole story. The theme here is about how the woman saw the possibility of keeping her child and having a happy life while the man fails to see the possibilities and tried to persuade her to go through with the abortion. In this story, the hills symbolized the obstacle that the couple was facing which was having or not having the baby. Although hills are a big hindrance which everyone must climb, from the point view of the woman, the hill was beautiful and she looked at it as a spectacular view instead of an obstacle; “They’re lovely...
Words: 2101 - Pages: 9
...unbreakable tyranny...prostate people”, and he goes on in the same paragraph mentioning the “bayonet into a Buddhist priest’s guts”. “feelings like these are normal by the products of imperialism ask any anglo indian official” Imperialism also promotes racism, prejudice, and resentment. The oppressors continues to break rules and disregards rights in order to stay in power and to show control of the land and people. This increases resentment in natives as shown in the story that even though the elephant does not have any strength the officer wants to make sure that it dies, “lands a bullet after a bullet to put the beast to end”, meaning the oppressor wants to make sure that enough damage is done to those oppressed that they are completely broken and have no ways to resent or to retaliate. Even though the elephant stood their and was calm the officer still made the decision of shooting it basing on the “yellow faces” as he mentions would have thought of him as weak or fool if he hadn’t shot the elephant. This certainly shows that the oppressor would do anything in his power regardless of it being right or wrong, moral or immoral, humane or inhumane, etc...to make himself look powerful and in control and we can also see that in the statement made by the officer Orwell narrates that: “It was a tiny incident in itself, but it gave me a better glimpse than i had had before of the real nature of imperialism-the real motives for which despotic governments act.”...
Words: 2021 - Pages: 9
...Rational Sentiment: A Formalist Essay on Hills Like White Elephants Rightful choices come whenever the realization of something wrong occuring comes. The various, contradicting dialogues of the characters evident in Hemingway’s literary piece exemplify their baffled minds and frequent loss of reason in seeking for transformation despite the circumstances. The short story focuses on a couple set in Spain who are faced with the argument as to whether she would have the operation or not since according to him, it would be as easy as “let[ting] the air in.” At one part of the text, the man would say, "I think it's the best thing to do. But I don't want you to do it if you don't really want to," where it is clear that he is still giving the woman some options although the American has made his choice final. From the beginning of the story, the American’s decision was made clear to the readers that he wanted no baby, no family, no responsibilities, and only pleasure. Just like what he said, “That's the only thing that bothers us. It's the only thing that's made us unhappy.” It is also seen many times in the text that he would always try to divert the conversation whenever the woman becomes too serious with the issue of abortion so he asks her to drink more beer with him; this line being frequently repeated: "Should we have another drink?" Jig, the woman in the text, had actually took into consideration the idea of giving away her child, as seen in the lines "Oh, yes. But I don't...
Words: 650 - Pages: 3
