The fact that the mother treated him as any other normal kid despite how deformed he became just shows that the most kind and caring people really do get overlooked by the jerks of the world.
Really goes to show what a powerful influence our parents can have on us. I have no doubt that the way his mom treated him and loved him as a child helped him become as strong and industrious as he was. RIP.
@@SyRose901 Having a good attachment figure during early childhood is extremely important for how someone develops into the adult they become and their ability to interact with others. If Joseph was raised by a mother who was cruel he likely would have gone down a very different path and gave up on several aspects of his life sooner. The Joseph the world got was a hard worker and a dreamer in spite of his deformities and the harassment from the rest of society.
I think he didn't fall into depression or harming himself because his mother loved him unconditionally. She gave him confidence and humanity. He might have had the worst life and later a better life, but I hope he is resting in peace and he is with his mother.
He was able to survive because despite the society laughing at him, the society kept him alive. In the nature he would have been dead before adulthood. So he was in debt with society and commiting suicide would have been the easy way out. People nowadays think everything is for granted and is the society who owes them
It must have at the very least been something that kept him going for so long. The idea that somebody could really love him, even if it is his mother, the one that was supposed to love him, she gave him a chance to live as normally as possible. That must have motivated him to keep going a bit.
I imagine his mother taught him that he could have a good life if he remembered what was really meaningful in this world. She saw him and loved him as a human being and instilled in him a sense of self-worth, despite his deformities. This is apparent in his poem, which was as much a message to himself as it was to others.
@@L16htW4rr10r I could see that. His mother had been the only person he could turn to. If he hadn't had her during his earliest, formative years, his story would have been very different.
I met a man with a similar condition and life story. He had been horrifically burned all over his body by a car accident in his late teens/early twenties. (his motorcycle versus the old kind of Volkswagen beetle with the fuel up front). His face was scarred and he wore an eye patch, he needed many skin grafts and treatments, he couldn't hear well, he had trouble speaking clearly, and one of his hands wasn't so useful. But he was one of the sweetest nicest men I have ever met. I met him as a kid, he was friends with my dad. He had a wife who he met AFTER the accident, and two beautiful well behaved children. He held a steady job as a technician, had his own small machine shop as a hobby and did projects with his church to help people who weren't as fortunate. Despite his condition, and battling his health ailments since young adulthood, he stayed cheerful, funny and even did a few church sermons giving his testimony. He died at about age 50 from cancer. Everyone loved him.
Why is it that the only person that cares for these people die when their child is still young, and they get handed to the care of evil and cruel people.
because those are the ones that have tragic stories written/told about them, the ones that get to keep their loving parent(or other similar caregiver) their whole lives don't.
A wise man once asked “why do bad things happen to good people?” I think it is because they need to be built to withstand other peoples judgment and violence. I have already been built to that point. But if I was in his situation I probably would have pushed over the edge....
My dad's heart is actually deformed, please don't say that a heart is "deformed" because a person can persevere. The doctors are just waiting for his heart to fail.
A Chad, in internet slang, is generally a sexually active "alpha male". The term has a history of being used by incels and other manosphere groups, though it has also become a slang term across the internet and among adolescents in general to refer to particularly courageous or competent males. This is what i found
@@dozzybeadle9265 Dude, he was a chad. Banging chicks isn’t the only definition to being a chad. If anything he is a king, being able to handle life with the most shitty cards handed to him and a disability, yet he was able to be courageous, become famous, and meet the king and queen of England. I hate to say this but I bet not even you yourself got to meet a king or queen in person. There is many words to describe something, just cause some online guys make it that definition doesn’t mean it will always apply to the core definition. tldr; stop being a moron that thinks one word will apply to one thing and one thing only
@@bobesponja3702 it means that if you wear your imperfections proudly it can not be used by others to hurt you. Since you have already come to accept it.
I can merge my pure hatred and anger into armor and weapons, and nobody would be able to stop me because the armor would keep coming back, tougher than before because of my anger and hatred toward that person. Thanks for the idea, I suggest you get to space before I become the unstoppable ruler of earth.
That’s why you should never underestimate the power of motherhood I get angry when I see people shitting on the concept saying it’s bad or unnecessary the love of his mother probably saved this mans life and pushed him to succeed despite everything that went wrong
@@DesertSessions93 yeah I can’t imagine and I consider myself lucky especially in these modern times that I had both my parents and let’s not forget to give credit to our fathers as well having a good father in the house is extremely important for young boys especially when they reach adolescence
My Father passed away when I was 8 and my sister was 6. At the time and through my teens I never truly appreciated how hard it must of been for my Mother to raise two children into adulthood. We never went wanting for food or a place to sleep. Quite the opposite. We had school supplies and were able to take part in sports. She had a full time job with a small supplement from Social Security from my Dad. The fact that were were low-income was never used as an excuse to deny us something we truly wanted to do. Except ice hockey. That was out of the question. My point is that that woman sacrificed a social life and future romantic prospects for her children to grow up somewhat normal lives. She's the reason I keep going. I want her to be proud. And, if someone messes with her; you best believe I'm gonna go Kill Bill on them. She's still my #1 fan, somehow, after all the mistakes.
He sounds like a great guy, it’s horrible that he had to go through all that but it’s absolutely amazing that he managed to fight through and make the best out of his situation. May he Rest In Peace
@@johnkeep5877 It's useless to explain it to you if you're going all philosophical on me. We all have souls whether you agree or not, and that soul is our real self, outward appearance is a shell that changes through out the years. Our bodies deteriorate but our soul stays the same and that's what keeps on living when we die. If you don't agree with me please don't attack me.
He was in a work prison for 4 years, But he didn’t give up He lost his popularity in freak shows, But he still didn’t give up. He had his life savings taken away, But he WOULD NOT give up He was beaten and lonely, BUT HE NEVER GAVE UP.
\you got to admit, Joseph Merrick is a stronger person then most people. He didn't care much about his appearance and he is very good at writing proems.
That theory of multiple illnesses attacking at the same time could actually be it. Since it was his _bones_ that were mutating, it may have been statue syndrome, where bones grow and overtake the entire body, making the skeleton look like a “statue”. The abnormal growth of bones combined with another illness may be how this happened.
For better or worse, pain and suffering often matures people. It's quite a conundrum: people laud wisdom and empathy, while fearing the situations that can cultivate them; meanwhile, even those who have those traits naturally are often ignored during their lives.
@@eehyetti Man has more than just his mind and what it sees physically. There is divinity within us, there is a soul. Something much grander than our minds and our minds will never be able to gaze into. He would like to be judged on the size of his soul (like god supposedly does) instead of being judged by the standards of the average men and what their minds see.
The fact that the elephant man is and will be more popular than almost everyone that watched this video is really impressive. Even if nature gives you the worst cards imaginable, there is a high chance you will be remembered way longer than a normal person
Joseph was extremely intelligent. I've read his letters he sent to his pen pals, and seen the miniature building models he built. Truly someone inspiring that he wouldn't let his physical limitations get in the way.
A beautiful poem indeed, and really tugs at the heart, however not his work. False Greatness by Isaac Watts truly seems to have been written for poor Mr. Joseph Merrick though, and perhaps to urge the rest of humanity to look a little deeper
I've been diagnosed and living with BDD for years. Pretty bad case. It ruined my life, my ability to make a good future for myself, and there is really nothing wrong with me objectively. I feel guilty for feeling that way even though I can't control it. The elephant man's story is unbelievably inspiring but also makes me incredibly sad. Goes to show how incredibly complex us humans really are. I think having his mother as a rock solid support in his life at the early stages played a big role in making his character so strong. I wish everyone gets to feel that kind of unconditional love in their life.
Poor guy, his life was so sad, but with all the disabilities and without anyone to support him, he managed to succeed in some places. Defently the strongest person I've ever heard of. Luck was neve on his side and he probably felt alone and ashamed of himself. If I only could have been there for him... After hearing this story im so thankful for my life and the fact that luck is on my side between time to time.
Still though, not trying to be a dick, but if you'd have lived back then, you probably would've treated him like trash as well, just like all of us. Because the people of that time didn't understand him, hell we don't even understand him now.
@@tampauser6879 I feel like that happened. Even the most brave person can break down. I’m assuming that it would’ve grown worse the longer he lived. He knew that he would’ve lived a life of torture so he let himself pass away. It’s such a sad story...😢
@@greenmilemirogrow524 It would make sense. I'm going to check out the movie. Seem to remember Michael Jackson had bought the remains. Seems like they could now be doing DNA studies to find out what he really had.
You can really see that having a very healthy relationship with a stable parental figure during a human's critical period helps a lot in how they deal with problems / setbacks later on in life. 💕
@@samanthaswann5071 just many horrible thing has happened to this world and now once that everything us semi okay Instead of being happy people now have social anxiety and shit Im not tryna be mean or anything btw so sorry if i offend ir hurt you
@@conservativedoggo28 but nothing about the world is semi okay, schools haven’t changed in 100 years and make kids want to kill themselves, parents and people are still horrible, yes things have “changed” but nothing has changed much for the better. I think I’m just mad because some kid I “knew” killed himself last week.
@@conservativedoggo28 Things might be "easier", but there are still plenty of issues in today's society, which can cause today and younger generations to undergo lots of stress and develop certain mental illness. Plus some mental illnesses or disorders aren't anyone's fault, and often exist due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. So I don't think newer generations are "weak"
Ever since I found out about him, I've always wanted to give him a nice hug. He definitely deserves one. I have the utmost respect for Joseph and his perseverance
he died so young, yet his life was so epic...he was literally a larger than life figure. he must have had the mind of a old man, all the adversaries he had been through...
He didn't just do that, he used his deformities to his advantage, in spite of all of the insults that were undoubtedly hurled at him throughout life. Absolute chad.
I've always heard poor Joseph Merrick was actually a very kind man who suffered horribly due to his appearance. But I had no idea about so much of this. Poor guy.
I've noticed that people with physical deformities are often the sweetest and funniest people you will ever meet. They have to evolve a powerful character to deal with the teasing and mean nature of people as they grow up. Meanwhile beautiful people are often shallow and uninteresting.
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 it's true bro. I used to wonder what life would be like without it. And before the pandemic it always looked like it would be better. But now I'm doing good and it's like that was all to get to this.
His poetry is astounding, I teared up when you read that. I think we can all learn so much from the tragic life of Joseph Merrick - especially is closing sentiments that he left with anyone who was privileged to receive his letters.
When I was around 6 or 7, I saw an episode of the history channel talking about him and, even though I knew he was just a normal person with deformities, I was terrified of him. For years, he was the monster under my bed, the invisible threat always out to get me. Just looking at him gave me nightmares, despite knowing logically he wasn't a monster at all. I didn't sleep in my own bed for months. I eventually grew out of that fear, and now as an adult I feel so ashamed for being afraid. It honestly makes me so sad that I ever felt that way, even though I couldn't help it. I hope I get to apologize to him one day and tell him he didn't deserve any of it.
I didn't think anyone else had that same fear! I also saw a discovery health special on him and was TERRIFIED for years. It's nice to see a video humanizing him now
I've once saw in public a man with really deformed face, and got intense instant fear, I knew it wasn't appropriate reaction but I could only look down so he wouldn't see my expression. Unfortunately I saw him when he was really close so I couldn't get calm and then look at him again and appear normal, or smile or fix it in any way. I'm sure he noticed and knew what was up. But it was just an involuntary reaction. It's like of you looked up and saw a bear three meters from you, and then you look closer and it's actually just a costume, you might still be scared even when knowing there is nothing to be afraid of. The flight/fight/freeze/fawn response triggers much faster than you can cool down.
Reactions like this are very hard to control and it sucks for the people on the receiving end but there isn't much we can do, especially as children. If you ever met him I'm sure you would find a way to apologize and make it up to him if you reacted that way today though! Don't feel bad!
I was viscerally scared to pieces of David Lynch’s film The Elephant Man for decades. I confess, I still can’t watch it comfortably. I watched it all the way through when I was a child, but it horrified me. I am trying to get to a comfortable emotional place to just sit and watch it by watching videos like these. I also know that logically he was a human being who was extremely kind and wise, but the ‘monster under the bed’ psychological outlook, as you noted, was very real for me too, at the time. I was only about 3 years old when I first saw the movie, and had nightmares about him.
“‘It’s true my form is something odd” “But blaming me is blaming god” “Could I create myself anew” “I would not fail in pleasing you” “Could I reach from pole to pole” “Or grasp the ocean with a span” “I would be measured by the soul: The minds the standard of the man” Beautiful poem 😿
Freaks: I'm gonna star in a show and make a decent living entertaining people! Victorian moral puritans: Freakshows are exploitative and cruel! Freaks: "thrown out on the street"
Well it does depend on if it was the "Freaks' " choice or not as well as if audience members are allowed to abuse them. Slavery was a common theme amongst shows featuring deformed entertainers.
Freak shows really were a mixed bag, some severely disabled people made a good living at it and for many it was their best prospect in life. It allowed them to earn a comfortable living and got them out in public where they'd normally be dirt poor and isolated. They could also sometimes be virtual slaves owned by the person running the show.
As a modern day “freak” I can tell you exactly how it feels to be stared at, laughed at. It sucks. Those with disabilities and differences don’t exist to make you all feel better about your lives. We are more than our differences we are whole people. We don’t want your pity or praise for a life lived as we must. Nothing about us, without us.
His life was so close to being tragic but honestly, its one of the most strangely inspiring stories ever, he came into the world with less than nothing and died a celebrity, absolute legend
I grew up with the story of "John" (Joseph) Merrick and as a kid who was hated and bullied and mocked constantly and had a terrible family life on top of that? I could relate to him. But after watching this video, decades after the fact? The real moral of the story is that force of will can overcome most anything, and that you can't let self-pity dictate your life. Mr. Merrick was a stronger man than I ever thought he was, and thank you for making this video and making such a sensitive and nuanced presentation.
“The circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” -Mewtwo, Pokémon The First Movie
@@jolynecujoh2694 two god level cat like creatures nearly destroying the world in a fight to the death until a ten year old nearly dies in an attempt to get them to stop.
I shared the story of Joseph with my young children at an early age. He has since become a source of motivation for them. My oldest one has a enlarged picture of him in her room to remind her every day that no matter how tough life gets, she will never give up the fight. She’s also been a champion of helping any schoolmate that is being bullied and making sure that they have a friend in her. After all, high school can be tough times. I am so proud of them both.
Medicine has made much progress with that I believe he would get surgery, physical therapy, and a course mental help. His spirit was in good shape which makes his story awe inspiring.
The thought of him penniless, curled up on the floor of the station waiting room absolutely breaks my heart. At least his story ended on a high note. What a challenging life that ended so young. Bless his heart.
Oh 😥😭, my emotions are all over the place. I literally was crying about the abuse & gawking from people and how lonely & sad he must have been deep down in his soul 😢. Yet I'm inspired & happy that Joseph was such a strong, determined person who refused to give up on himself and being around people. That man had one of the Most Beautiful soul, mind & heart I've ever heard of , in a human being. That alone makes him handsome in appearance and beautiful in spirit , in my opinion. I thank God, He gave me the eyes & heart to find/see beauty in others , that the majority of the world has shunned & casted out. If he lived today, I would so hope & pray Joseph would choose me to be a friend of his. I have no doubt, Joseph loved & respected his friends and was a person that could be trusted. RIP Joseph💜. I'm sure he heard God say to him, " Job well done, good & faithful servent, Enter".
If there is one thing we can take away after hearing his very sad life, it’s strength and courage to carry on no matter what life’s terrible troubles we are dealt. My heart goes out to him even though he is a long time deceased. Rest in peace Mr Joesph Merrick. Also be extremely grateful we have lived a normal life in comparison to what he had to live.
Nothing more ironic than apparent "moral righteousness" destroying one of this dude's sources of income/confidence and then high society being the ones to help him out
Same with the movie freaks. Banned in many countries because the actors were handicapped and people said they were exploited though they got well paid and wanted to do that movie.
Him and so many other sideshow freaks who were perfectly happy to be stared and laughed at so long as they got paid. They knew that without their shows, they'd be subjected to the same kinds of abuse Joseph was in Belgium.
The "snowflake generation", who feels the need to be upset over everything that even APPEARS to be less than politically correct, would probably be on this guy for using his appearance and deformities to support himself, as an insult to all handicapped people! How dare he parade himself before people, AND, made a living from it, to boot!
@@petergant1379 And it was a similar attitude that resulted in the death of freak shows and the unemployment of folks like him. Humanity never really changes.
Joseph's poem is so very beautiful. It is so bright and forthright. I would like to think that, if I met him when he needed help, I would have assisted him. I look to my own life choices, and from that I honestly think I would help. This is one of the MOST classic examples of beauty having nothing to do with physical appearance.
I'm gonna be honest, I don't think I would have. Not because I would hate him, but because of fear. Most physical disabilities aren't contagious, and are recognizeable, but whatever he had was something totally different (but still not contagious as I know from our modern knowledge of medicine). If I saw him I would think the world was ending, because there is literally no logical explanation for him being the way that he was. I would have been scared. I would have run away. I would have thought he was a real life monster, the first of his kind. Patient zero. But maybe now, because of this video, things might turn out differently than I expect if I were to see someone with similar difficulties, but from the past, whenever I see someone who can't communicate, I look away. WE look away. Its just what we do. I'm sorry, Joeseph.
"Imprinting during pregnancy" is a belief that persists today. At least it did when my mother was pregnant with me (30yrs ago). My mom was a Mexican Woman, and when i was born, i had a rough/dry spot of skin. My mom was convinced that happened because she had a craving for aligator, after hearing that the US south eats it. Since she never had the chance to eat it, she believed it imprinted on me as a fetus. My dry spot of skin went away after a few weeks of baby lotion, lol.
The mother can have an epigenetic effect on the unborn baby. Not like in your case though, that wouldn't make any evolutionary or even biological sense.
My Chinese mom had similar belief.... Apparenrly as a baby I had glowing red mark on my forehead in the exact place my mom spat on a woman (whom my dad cheated with). At least the mark faded 😅
Well, when research began shortly after Joseph’s death the technology wasn’t advanced enough to draw any conclusions. When research was put back into action a few years ago, his bones had unfortunately been bleached as his skeleton had previously been put on display in a museum.
@@Heisenburga he had a incredible diformity/condition and if they ever wanted to find a cure or learn more about it "sequencing against their will" doesnt really matter, especially after death, are they not suposed to study him?
I won't lie. I literally paused the video and applauded alone in my room with tears in my eyes after the end quote by Joseph. Its truly beautiful ❤️. " The mind's the standard of a man" brilliant
This man's undescribable will to fight against the world makes him a winner. I am ABSOLUTELY speechless and inspired by this man's strong and powerful will to live and push through.. And what a beautiful poem he wrote before he passed on. Rest in peace
@@chrissibersky4617 Are you going to compare a poor guy with a horrible deformity who could do nothing about it with a worthless pedophile? Come on man. Bully pedophiles all you want but dont compare the poor guy in the video with pedophiles about a comment adressing the bullying he got throughout his life.
See how much a mother's love can help you? She definitely deserves so much credit for his unbelievable confidence to keep going and trying. Some parents thinking the tough love approach is what is needed to give their kids confidence through life when it sometimes really doesn't.
It’s both. You need a balance of affection and firmness both are expressions of love. I’m sure she disciplined him fairly when needed but probably not often he probably had a very easy going personality. Each child is different.
Ever heard the theory of maternal impression ? For example my mom fell down stairs when pregnsnt with me and got a big bruise on her leg. She swears I was born with a birthmark the exact same place. It's not science more like superstition.
Rest in peace Joseph, you amazingly brave human. Your story will continue to inspire people until the end of our time. I am so happy people are calling you by your proper name now and not John. Rest in peace sweet human x
This is the first time I actually heard his life story, and I'm surprisingly touched. I never knew he had such an inspiring story, he was a truly resilient man
At least now he does not have to deal with the bull crap that the world has treated him with and can now rest easier in heaven with his mother.... May he RIP
Truly inspirational, and brings to attention the incredible importance of being a kind and gracious person in a oftentimes hostile world. He was perhaps the most perfectly human of any of us. Rest in peace, Joseph.
9:14 I keep trying to tell people that many acts in freak shows and circuses ended up like this. Yes, there was certainly exploitation, especially if you were any race other than white, but many of the most famous in sideshows made a choice and signed a contract to be in these shows. Often it would be the only work they could either get or physically perform, they were given protection and care, found a close group that accepted them, and with a good manager could often make enough money in a few years to comfortably retire (and pay for any additional health care or assistants they needed to survive.) I could write a whole essay (and have for college) but in short: like many things, the morality of these shows weren’t black and white. There’s good and bad sides to them, and I find the history fascinating!
@@kenlee5015 Yeah, Gibsonton. I live a few miles away from there, it’s still a hub for circus and carnival workers. The International Independent Showmen’s Museum is small but enjoyable if you’re ever down here. :)
hes so mentally strong and optimistic and still willing to make a living despite his deformities. you know it could take a toll for some ppl. hats off to him
Given what we know today about radiation exposure that they didn't know then I wonder if he was somehow exposed to a large but non-lethal dose as a child. His deformities seem to be more severe on his right side while the left seems most normal. Were there any types of glowing toys in his time? Noting his skull and shoulder, perhaps a toy he would sleep with.
Radiation was not 'discovered' until after he was born, and how would he have come into such a large dose anyway? If it was in the toys when he was young you would expect a large number of children showing the same effects. Most toys would have been wooden in nature , or cloth dolls etc. at that time. And most working class children would not have had many toys.
@@janetpendlebury6808 Discovered is the keyword. They could have been using radioactive material without understanding its full danger. Perhaps a substance to warm a bed on a cold night or light a room. We know that as far back as the ancient Egyptians had used radioactive material in religions artifacts. Who knows what he could have been exposed to accidentally. Keep in mind some toys back then were individually made not mass produced. Also the toy idea was speculative. Could have been a pillow or maybe something he was exposed to only once.
@@janetpendlebury6808 Radiation being discovered in a later time, don’t negate the fact radiation has always existed. Ever heard of the Radium Girls? These women ingested radium with nearly every brushstroke when painting luminous watches, In the 1916’s. Radium is a radioactive element, and it was used in cosmetics, paint, toothpaste, and even food and drinks.
radiation exposure really doesn't cause these the kind of deformities and mutations - cancer, severe illness, burns and other injuries but direct mutations like this just don't happen. If his mother/father were exposed to radiation, it's possible their DNA could have been mutated in some way but that's very unlikely since radiation wasn't observed and radium wasn't isolated until 1898, 8 years after his death
Amazing story, Joseph was a great fighter! The world already beat him down to the extreme by him being born like that but then just his bad luck in general, it's brutal and unbelievably unfair. The back and forth of good fortune and the opposite is so interesting. His death is so sad, really wish he coulda kept going longer.
What a strong fighter. He upheld so much pain and torture most would have broke at the start these days. A true soldier who fought to live everyday even though he was faced with nothing but pain and almost 200 years later people are still giving him shit, ffs.
Wow! This man was treated brutally by random people because of his appearance. But he still had a good soul and heart. This shows that humanity can be really cruel.
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I think elephant man is a badass, he never surrender against all odds. He had unbelievable strong determination.
Ikr
A true fighter
@leah rose no its just a tactical respawn
And let me remind you he was only 11 years old
@leah rose That was just a more dramatic ending for the movie, which is sadly what most people's knowledge of Joseph Merrick stems from.
@@asheed hell ye. Ngl this video was inspirational as fuck
He was dealt one of the shittiest hands in history, and he played it so well that he actually came out on top and won. Mad respect!
Well said!
He is like Jojo, trolling the shit out of D'Arby with his shit hand.
especially on his right
Damn right, that’s how you play! Just like the song by Saxon: Never surrender!
He hit on 16 and got 21.
The fact that the mother treated him as any other normal kid despite how deformed he became just shows that the most kind and caring people really do get overlooked by the jerks of the world.
Probably the reason Joseph turned out to be a very strong man at heart.
he looked gray like an elephant
Really goes to show what a powerful influence our parents can have on us. I have no doubt that the way his mom treated him and loved him as a child helped him become as strong and industrious as he was. RIP.
the exact same kindness in wonder
@@SyRose901 Having a good attachment figure during early childhood is extremely important for how someone develops into the adult they become and their ability to interact with others. If Joseph was raised by a mother who was cruel he likely would have gone down a very different path and gave up on several aspects of his life sooner. The Joseph the world got was a hard worker and a dreamer in spite of his deformities and the harassment from the rest of society.
I think he didn't fall into depression or harming himself because his mother loved him unconditionally. She gave him confidence and humanity. He might have had the worst life and later a better life, but I hope he is resting in peace and he is with his mother.
No, becuase it wasnt the norm to have a weak mentality. People back then didnt hang themselves for being ugly.
He was able to survive because despite the society laughing at him, the society kept him alive. In the nature he would have been dead before adulthood. So he was in debt with society and commiting suicide would have been the easy way out. People nowadays think everything is for granted and is the society who owes them
True 👍🏻
You can say whatever you want about him getting bad hands after bad hands, he was still blessed with a wonderful mother.
He actually only had one bad hand... the enlarged one
Badumtush
It must have at the very least been something that kept him going for so long. The idea that somebody could really love him, even if it is his mother, the one that was supposed to love him, she gave him a chance to live as normally as possible. That must have motivated him to keep going a bit.
Who died
@@junior1388666 the guy that the video is about.
The mother who, although died when Joseph was young, I think gave him the determination he needed.
When you say it like that, maybe the reason why he continues on living is because he wants to make his mother proud... :,(
I imagine his mother taught him that he could have a good life if he remembered what was really meaningful in this world. She saw him and loved him as a human being and instilled in him a sense of self-worth, despite his deformities. This is apparent in his poem, which was as much a message to himself as it was to others.
@@L16htW4rr10r I could see that. His mother had been the only person he could turn to. If he hadn't had her during his earliest, formative years, his story would have been very different.
This is a shitty place for an undertale joke... So I'll *spare* you the trouble.
A mother’s love should never fail.
poor guy went through so much at such a young age, it's truly unbelievable.
This video made me be currently thinking about how good i have it, and how sad life is
Mwahahaha!!
@@satan1626 how and what
And now youngster crying if they get low heart on stupid tiktoks
@@randomname7321 He prays to God, not me.
I met a man with a similar condition and life story.
He had been horrifically burned all over his body by a car accident in his late teens/early twenties. (his motorcycle versus the old kind of Volkswagen beetle with the fuel up front).
His face was scarred and he wore an eye patch, he needed many skin grafts and treatments, he couldn't hear well, he had trouble speaking clearly, and one of his hands wasn't so useful.
But he was one of the sweetest nicest men I have ever met. I met him as a kid, he was friends with my dad. He had a wife who he met AFTER the accident, and two beautiful well behaved children. He held a steady job as a technician, had his own small machine shop as a hobby and did projects with his church to help people who weren't as fortunate.
Despite his condition, and battling his health ailments since young adulthood, he stayed cheerful, funny and even did a few church sermons giving his testimony.
He died at about age 50 from cancer. Everyone loved him.
That is a beautiful story, thanks for sharing.
@@Bambisgf77 He was one of the best men I've ever met.
Why is it that the only person that cares for these people die when their child is still young, and they get handed to the care of evil and cruel people.
because those are the ones that have tragic stories written/told about them, the ones that get to keep their loving parent(or other similar caregiver) their whole lives don't.
A wise man once asked “why do bad things happen to good people?” I think it is because they need to be built to withstand other peoples judgment and violence. I have already been built to that point. But if I was in his situation I probably would have pushed over the edge....
@@RipOffProductionsLLC But even if his mom didn't die the story would be told.
@@DetJames-wh6cc I sure hope it's not on purpose.
real-life plot convenience
I like learning about strange accounts, but this man, he was probably the most interesting, most polite, hard-working person I’ve learned about
We built different in Leicester
I usually don't like history channels and stuff but thoughty2 brung me to this category
Everything I've heard about Joseph Merrick suggests he was a good man.
Damn right
@@ballotellitubbies441 me and all my homies have unnatural deformities.
His heart was "deformed" too. Very few "normal" people could endure so much, and yet persevere. The heart on this man...remarkable.
Maybe the true human in the Elephant Man were the friends he made along the way
No, his heart wasn’t deformed. Everybody who bullied him had a deformed heart.
@@epicmeerkat1677 Very well said.
My dad's heart is actually deformed, please don't say that a heart is "deformed" because a person can persevere. The doctors are just waiting for his heart to fail.
@@epicmeerkat1677 people with deformed hearts don't equal bad people. It makes me sad
The guy was a legitimate badass, life tried to beat him down multiple times and yet he pressed on harder than ever.
He was bullied so much, beaten, ridiculed, deformed, screamed at,.....but he kept going....such a Chad, he has my respect
someone needs to look up the definition of chad
A Chad, in internet slang, is generally a sexually active "alpha male". The term has a history of being used by incels and other manosphere groups, though it has also become a slang term across the internet and among adolescents in general to refer to particularly courageous or competent males.
This is what i found
Was he sexualy active though? Did his uh...
fair play, I hate what the youth is doing to our language, it seems like its just for the sake of being different.
@@dozzybeadle9265 Dude, he was a chad. Banging chicks isn’t the only definition to being a chad. If anything he is a king, being able to handle life with the most shitty cards handed to him and a disability, yet he was able to be courageous, become famous, and meet the king and queen of England. I hate to say this but I bet not even you yourself got to meet a king or queen in person. There is many words to describe something, just cause some online guys make it that definition doesn’t mean it will always apply to the core definition.
tldr; stop being a moron that thinks one word will apply to one thing and one thing only
“Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.”
-Tyrion Lannister
This should be a pinned comment
Well i mean,i can hit you with an armor and you'll be hurt anyways
I dont really understand this
@@bobesponja3702 it means that if you wear your imperfections proudly it can not be used by others to hurt you. Since you have already come to accept it.
I can merge my pure hatred and anger into armor and weapons, and nobody would be able to stop me because the armor would keep coming back, tougher than before because of my anger and hatred toward that person. Thanks for the idea, I suggest you get to space before I become the unstoppable ruler of earth.
A *real* mother will always love her child!
That’s why you should never underestimate the power of motherhood I get angry when I see people shitting on the concept saying it’s bad or unnecessary the love of his mother probably saved this mans life and pushed him to succeed despite everything that went wrong
@@Saber23 growing up without a mother is very, very hard to do.... It's kinda hell on earth
@@DesertSessions93 yeah I can’t imagine and I consider myself lucky especially in these modern times that I had both my parents and let’s not forget to give credit to our fathers as well having a good father in the house is extremely important for young boys especially when they reach adolescence
My Father passed away when I was 8 and my sister was 6. At the time and through my teens I never truly appreciated how hard it must of been for my Mother to raise two children into adulthood. We never went wanting for food or a place to sleep. Quite the opposite. We had school supplies and were able to take part in sports. She had a full time job with a small supplement from Social Security from my Dad. The fact that were were low-income was never used as an excuse to deny us something we truly wanted to do. Except ice hockey. That was out of the question. My point is that that woman sacrificed a social life and future romantic prospects for her children to grow up somewhat normal lives. She's the reason I keep going. I want her to be proud. And, if someone messes with her; you best believe I'm gonna go Kill Bill on them. She's still my #1 fan, somehow, after all the mistakes.
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
He sounds like a great guy, it’s horrible that he had to go through all that but it’s absolutely amazing that he managed to fight through and make the best out of his situation. May he Rest In Peace
Just look at his eyes. You can see his real self in his eyes.
@THE NEWMAKER no, your real self has nothing to do with your outward appearance.
@@007Julie thats his real self just not his inner self
@@jaffil4026 you don’t get it, what Leah is saying that by looking into his eyes you can see his soul. The eyes are the window into our soul.
@@007Julie What is a soul though? I think you mean mind or brain...
@@johnkeep5877 It's useless to explain it to you if you're going all philosophical on me. We all have souls whether you agree or not, and that soul is our real self, outward appearance is a shell that changes through out the years. Our bodies deteriorate but our soul stays the same and that's what keeps on living when we die. If you don't agree with me please don't attack me.
He was in a work prison for 4 years,
But he didn’t give up
He lost his popularity in freak shows,
But he still didn’t give up.
He had his life savings taken away,
But he WOULD NOT give up
He was beaten and lonely,
BUT HE NEVER GAVE UP.
That almost read like my own life.
He didn’t deserve to die.. his poem was beautiful
@@andredeketeleastutecomplex lies
A lot of people helped him out too.
I feel like ive been in a work proson for like 10 years now.
I almost cried at the end, this guy went through so much. Huge respect
How’d you do the no name.
'Normal' humans called him disgusting, the real disgusting thing is how they treated him.
@@moonygacha8089 No name?
I did cry.
Same here. I wasn't expecting myself to cry though
This man had the worst luck of any man in history and he made it through his determination was incredible
Yeah, sad when life gives you lemons & forget to give you sugar. You can't make lemonade. But he did put up a show
\you got to admit, Joseph Merrick is a stronger person then most people. He didn't care much about
his appearance and he is very good at writing proems.
Yeah even though people bully him, he don't care!
He is probably the strongest Man I've ever heard of
@@bombfire8280 well he IS the (elephant) man after all! badum tsssss
i dont gonna be an asshole but the great depression came at 1929 though and he died at 1890
How do you know he didn't care
That theory of multiple illnesses attacking at the same time could actually be it. Since it was his _bones_ that were mutating, it may have been statue syndrome, where bones grow and overtake the entire body, making the skeleton look like a “statue”. The abnormal growth of bones combined with another illness may be how this happened.
Indeed but what about the father
He didn’t become like a statue though. I think Proteus Syndrome.
I believe the current theory is that he had a severe case of Proteus Syndrome.
Thanks random man on the internet. I belive you. Screw all of the doctors through out history
@@flowerfaerie8931 Not just severe, but the most extreme case of it.
“I would be measured by the soul, the mind is the standard of the man”
Such wise words from someone who was so young, damn...
For better or worse, pain and suffering often matures people. It's quite a conundrum: people laud wisdom and empathy, while fearing the situations that can cultivate them; meanwhile, even those who have those traits naturally are often ignored during their lives.
@@tgbluewolf Well thought and said.
Can you please explain what he meant by that?
@@eehyetti Man has more than just his mind and what it sees physically. There is divinity within us, there is a soul.
Something much grander than our minds and our minds will never be able to gaze into.
He would like to be judged on the size of his soul (like god supposedly does) instead of being judged by the standards of the average men and what their minds see.
@@Hug0Pro Thank you 🙏🏻
The fact that the elephant man is and will be more popular than almost everyone that watched this video is really impressive. Even if nature gives you the worst cards imaginable, there is a high chance you will be remembered way longer than a normal person
Joseph was extremely intelligent. I've read his letters he sent to his pen pals, and seen the miniature building models he built. Truly someone inspiring that he wouldn't let his physical limitations get in the way.
That poem hits right in the feels. Deformed or not, that elephant could write
@Paul Hernandez In fact, sir, that's what your mother did when she birthed you. Good day, sir.
He wrote with his "trunk" as well, which is doubly impressive
I am fuckin screaming lolololol
@GOD不Slime How dare you. I've no doubt your face is easily mistaken for buttock, sir.
A beautiful poem indeed, and really tugs at the heart, however not his work. False Greatness by Isaac Watts truly seems to have been written for poor Mr. Joseph Merrick though, and perhaps to urge the rest of humanity to look a little deeper
"Compared to Joseph Merrick, you're basically a supermodel..."
Yeah, but compared to a supermodel, I'm basically Joseph Merrick...
Lol
LOL
Kind of like an ,"is the glass half full or half empty", type of situation.
I thought the same thing lol
Lmao
I've been diagnosed and living with BDD for years. Pretty bad case. It ruined my life, my ability to make a good future for myself, and there is really nothing wrong with me objectively. I feel guilty for feeling that way even though I can't control it. The elephant man's story is unbelievably inspiring but also makes me incredibly sad. Goes to show how incredibly complex us humans really are. I think having his mother as a rock solid support in his life at the early stages played a big role in making his character so strong. I wish everyone gets to feel that kind of unconditional love in their life.
Are you my long lost twin?? I too, have severe BDD. I can’t control it either. God bless you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️.
Poor guy, his life was so sad, but with all the disabilities and without anyone to support him, he managed to succeed in some places. Defently the strongest person I've ever heard of.
Luck was neve on his side and he probably felt alone and ashamed of himself. If I only could have been there for him... After hearing this story im so thankful for my life and the fact that luck is on my side between time to time.
I love that pfp
@@Scout-xw1uk thanks XD
Still though, not trying to be a dick, but if you'd have lived back then, you probably would've treated him like trash as well, just like all of us. Because the people of that time didn't understand him, hell we don't even understand him now.
Is this what the saying “Only worth a mother’s love” came from? That must be torture.
"A face only a mother could love"
Even a mother would have a very hard time if their child turns out like this, im gonna guess most would abandon their child.
@@Vyansya Maybe, but nobody worth their salt would.
@@Vyansya unfortunately, you might be right. Let's hope there are more good people in the world than bad ones, though.
Bruh..... he died possibly because he wanted to lie down jst a little bit more comfortably and crossed the border....... sad af
He died because he wanted to sleep like a "Normal Person" thing that, for the first time, he feels like
Maybe he intentionally laid down to die, knowing he would suffocate.
@@tampauser6879 I feel like that happened. Even the most brave person can break down. I’m assuming that it would’ve grown worse the longer he lived. He knew that he would’ve lived a life of torture so he let himself pass away. It’s such a sad story...😢
He killed him self it’s well known.
@@greenmilemirogrow524 It would make sense. I'm going to check out the movie. Seem to remember Michael Jackson had bought the remains. Seems like they could now be doing DNA studies to find out what he really had.
You can really see that having a very healthy relationship with a stable parental figure during a human's critical period helps a lot in how they deal with problems / setbacks later on in life. 💕
And yet no records of him ever trying to harm himself or end his life, truly an inspirational man
This Generation is weak...
@@conservativedoggo28 huh? What do mean ??
@@samanthaswann5071 just many horrible thing has happened to this world and now once that everything us semi okay Instead of being happy people now have social anxiety and shit
Im not tryna be mean or anything btw so sorry if i offend ir hurt you
@@conservativedoggo28 but nothing about the world is semi okay, schools haven’t changed in 100 years and make kids want to kill themselves, parents and people are still horrible, yes things have “changed” but nothing has changed much for the better. I think I’m just mad because some kid I “knew” killed himself last week.
@@conservativedoggo28 Things might be "easier", but there are still plenty of issues in today's society, which can cause today and younger generations to undergo lots of stress and develop certain mental illness. Plus some mental illnesses or disorders aren't anyone's fault, and often exist due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. So I don't think newer generations are "weak"
Ever since I found out about him, I've always wanted to give him a nice hug. He definitely deserves one. I have the utmost respect for Joseph and his perseverance
He needed someone to smash though 😭
@@jjcoola998 That'd get his bones broken
@@jjcoola998 you & me know damn well not only you thought of that 💀
Thjs man deserves all human's respect.
@Utube hates Free speech it's a pfp, dude. Some people just don't like showing their face online
@Utube hates Free speech ok what
Egg
@@sancaioric8438 P O G
@@anonymous-mi8su he was hating on someone for their anime pfp
The fact that he passed on my birthday makes me so much more sad. Like, this man could easily be the bravest, most determined individual ever. Respect
he died so young, yet his life was so epic...he was literally a larger than life figure. he must have had the mind of a old man, all the adversaries he had been through...
*adversity.
Adversaries are people
@@msmltvcktl probably a bit of both tbh
This guy lived his life like his deformities didn't exist, mad respect.
He didn't just do that, he used his deformities to his advantage, in spite of all of the insults that were undoubtedly hurled at him throughout life. Absolute chad.
I wouldn't say he lived like they didn't exist. If anything he lived like they were all he had
He used all he got and succeeded for a bit
I doubt that.
The balls on this many
At least he had a caring mother
That was taken away from him. His life was both tragic and inspiring.
Until she got dropped by the flu
@@LSK2K Better than a mother that doesn't care and won't die.
This hit me hard.
More than I can say...
this dude sounds like an amazing person and was truly determined to make the best of his life, i love this man.
"What happened to your son? He used to be so healthy!"
"Well when I was pregnant I got scared by an elephant"
"Oh ok makes sense"
lol
It would have if it was before the 19s
*Sam o' nella intro plays*
Huh??
What a stupid comment
@@DarkMatter1919 alright youtube user darkmatter1919
I've always heard poor Joseph Merrick was actually a very kind man who suffered horribly due to his appearance. But I had no idea about so much of this. Poor guy.
Read the book. It really hits in the feels.
Look up the card models he made and painted and presented to people. They're so pretty
I've noticed that people with physical deformities are often the sweetest and funniest people you will ever meet. They have to evolve a powerful character to deal with the teasing and mean nature of people as they grow up. Meanwhile beautiful people are often shallow and uninteresting.
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 it's true bro. I used to wonder what life would be like without it. And before the pandemic it always looked like it would be better. But now I'm doing good and it's like that was all to get to this.
@@myfirstcrappyvideobilly Glad to hear it man.
Just imagine the pain this man went through, and it wasn’t even his fault 💔
His poetry is astounding, I teared up when you read that. I think we can all learn so much from the tragic life of Joseph Merrick - especially is closing sentiments that he left with anyone who was privileged to receive his letters.
*"The human brain is the most complex structure in the whole entire universe"*
_-Human Brain_
This has two meanings, one of them is toxic and the other is true. I don't know what you meant
@@zdravkonoev i Think thats the joke behind it ^^
@@kingfreddy5268 i don't think you understood my comment
Is this the only thing you ever comment?
@@zdravkonoev i Think you didnt understand the First comment xd
When I was around 6 or 7, I saw an episode of the history channel talking about him and, even though I knew he was just a normal person with deformities, I was terrified of him. For years, he was the monster under my bed, the invisible threat always out to get me. Just looking at him gave me nightmares, despite knowing logically he wasn't a monster at all. I didn't sleep in my own bed for months. I eventually grew out of that fear, and now as an adult I feel so ashamed for being afraid. It honestly makes me so sad that I ever felt that way, even though I couldn't help it. I hope I get to apologize to him one day and tell him he didn't deserve any of it.
I didn't think anyone else had that same fear! I also saw a discovery health special on him and was TERRIFIED for years. It's nice to see a video humanizing him now
I've once saw in public a man with really deformed face, and got intense instant fear, I knew it wasn't appropriate reaction but I could only look down so he wouldn't see my expression. Unfortunately I saw him when he was really close so I couldn't get calm and then look at him again and appear normal, or smile or fix it in any way. I'm sure he noticed and knew what was up. But it was just an involuntary reaction. It's like of you looked up and saw a bear three meters from you, and then you look closer and it's actually just a costume, you might still be scared even when knowing there is nothing to be afraid of. The flight/fight/freeze/fawn response triggers much faster than you can cool down.
Reactions like this are very hard to control and it sucks for the people on the receiving end but there isn't much we can do, especially as children. If you ever met him I'm sure you would find a way to apologize and make it up to him if you reacted that way today though! Don't feel bad!
How u gonna apologize when the man has been long dead tho
I was viscerally scared to pieces of David Lynch’s film The Elephant Man for decades. I confess, I still can’t watch it comfortably. I watched it all the way through when I was a child, but it horrified me. I am trying to get to a comfortable emotional place to just sit and watch it by watching videos like these. I also know that logically he was a human being who was extremely kind and wise, but the ‘monster under the bed’ psychological outlook, as you noted, was very real for me too, at the time. I was only about 3 years old when I first saw the movie, and had nightmares about him.
Everyone else: I'm so ugly omg like-
Joseph: You're lucky enough to look like a human being.
Joseph: listen here you ungrateful little shit
just because one guy 150 years ago had the shittiest luck and was born like that, doesn't mean you're lucky
@@magk2524 your luckier than him so I'd say it does
@@pillarmenn1936 Not really. If you get shot and your friend gets shot twice, are you lucky?
@@dreugh424 Uh yes? higher chance of surviving? I think the problem isn't with me but with you friend
“‘It’s true my form is something odd”
“But blaming me is blaming god”
“Could I create myself anew”
“I would not fail in pleasing you”
“Could I reach from pole to pole”
“Or grasp the ocean with a span”
“I would be measured by the soul: The minds the standard of the man”
Beautiful poem 😿
“Could I create myself anew, I would not fail in pleasing you”
Damn, that just reduced me to tears.
Freaks: I'm gonna star in a show and make a decent living entertaining people!
Victorian moral puritans: Freakshows are exploitative and cruel!
Freaks: "thrown out on the street"
Well it does depend on if it was the "Freaks' " choice or not as well as if audience members are allowed to abuse them.
Slavery was a common theme amongst shows featuring deformed entertainers.
Freak shows really were a mixed bag, some severely disabled people made a good living at it and for many it was their best prospect in life. It allowed them to earn a comfortable living and got them out in public where they'd normally be dirt poor and isolated. They could also sometimes be virtual slaves owned by the person running the show.
why do so many people not know how to use quotation marks
*quotation marks are for dialogue, not for actions performed by characters*
Get woke go broke?
@@arthas640 sometimes literal slaves because they were bought as slaves.
People: ew my face look ugl-
Elephant man: *listen here you little shit*
Tha- That's true.
so true my guy
True dude
hilarious
I find that disrespectful....
As a modern day “freak” I can tell you exactly how it feels to be stared at, laughed at. It sucks.
Those with disabilities and differences don’t exist to make you all feel better about your lives. We are more than our differences we are whole people. We don’t want your pity or praise for a life lived as we must.
Nothing about us, without us.
Well said!
More power to you 😎
dont care didnt ask that's unrelated to everything
just Googled your name. Damn it looks scary at first. Hope you are living a cool life :)
@@g.constraint1392 S H U T
The determination he had despite his deformities is incredible. He never gave up, and actually used his appearance to his advantage.
His life was so close to being tragic but honestly, its one of the most strangely inspiring stories ever, he came into the world with less than nothing and died a celebrity, absolute legend
He was actually intelligent and mature person, that's the real beauty of a person!
Yeah, acording to the doctors who studied him, he was actually above average intelligence. He was actually a really smart person.
Darn you for making me cry. Joseph was more than most of us could dream of being.
Very well said.
I couldn't agree more 👍💯 joseph really truly was more
I grew up with the story of "John" (Joseph) Merrick and as a kid who was hated and bullied and mocked constantly and had a terrible family life on top of that? I could relate to him. But after watching this video, decades after the fact? The real moral of the story is that force of will can overcome most anything, and that you can't let self-pity dictate your life. Mr. Merrick was a stronger man than I ever thought he was, and thank you for making this video and making such a sensitive and nuanced presentation.
This guy had a heart of steel. He has my utmost respect.
He was a fighter. He took what life gave him and made the most of it. I bet he's probably the most handsome man in Heaven.
“The circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.”
-Mewtwo, Pokémon The First Movie
@@apollyonnoctis1291 tf is happening over in pokemon
@@jolynecujoh2694 Shhhhh.. just give him his moment.
That guy just slayed with a pokon quote right? Like im not drunk or high im seeing right wtf 🤣 2021 sure promises alot
@@jolynecujoh2694 two god level cat like creatures nearly destroying the world in a fight to the death until a ten year old nearly dies in an attempt to get them to stop.
I shared the story of Joseph with my young children at an early age. He has since become a source of motivation for them. My oldest one has a enlarged picture of him in her room to remind her every day that no matter how tough life gets, she will never give up the fight. She’s also been a champion of helping any schoolmate that is being bullied and making sure that they have a friend in her. After all, high school can be tough times. I am so proud of them both.
Every parent should be like you.
That's great to hear! I'm sure it would make Joseph really happy to know that his story is inspiring and helping other people. R.I.P. Joseph Merrick.
Your daughter sounds like a friend of mine
Such a good person
She was my only help when i was bullied as a kid
Medicine has made much progress with that I believe he would get surgery, physical therapy, and a course mental help. His spirit was in good shape which makes his story awe inspiring.
The thought of him penniless, curled up on the floor of the station waiting room absolutely breaks my heart. At least his story ended on a high note. What a challenging life that ended so young. Bless his heart.
imagine him say "ew" when he looks at you
lmfao
*john writes down note*
*you Read the note*
"You look disgusting"
Me: did u have mirrors where u came from?
*_ouch_*
*BRUH*
This man has a heart of steel. There's no way I could endure as much as he has and push through the way he did. Bless him
This man endured bullying divorce his moms death parents who taunted him can we give this man a purple heart and a medal of honor?
@Thomas Livingston dead people can be awarded medals of honor
@Gilbones
We CAN knight him though.
Don't have to be in the military for that. All you have to do is be an extraordinary Brit.
Ya mean a hundred or so?
@@marrqi7wini54 and to not be a bummer like GilBones
@@maks-tldr56 definitely
Oh 😥😭, my emotions are all over the place.
I literally was crying about the abuse & gawking from people and how lonely & sad he must have been deep down in his soul 😢.
Yet I'm inspired & happy that Joseph was such a strong, determined person who refused to give up on himself and being around people.
That man had one of the Most Beautiful soul, mind & heart I've ever heard of , in a human being.
That alone makes him handsome in appearance and beautiful in spirit , in my opinion.
I thank God, He gave me the eyes & heart to find/see beauty in others , that the majority of the world has shunned & casted out.
If he lived today, I would so hope & pray Joseph would choose me to be a friend of his. I have no doubt, Joseph loved & respected his friends and was a person that could be trusted.
RIP Joseph💜.
I'm sure he heard God say to him, " Job well done, good & faithful servent, Enter".
If there is one thing we can take away after hearing his very sad life, it’s strength and courage to carry on no matter what life’s terrible troubles we are dealt. My heart goes out to him even though he is a long time deceased. Rest in peace Mr Joesph Merrick. Also be extremely grateful we have lived a normal life in comparison to what he had to live.
I feel bad for him , he just wanted to be accepted. People are so cruel.
I respect him so much
Different times
They don't say "it's easy to beat nettles with someone else's penis" for no reason.
I'd love to see how you would have reacted almost 150 years ago.
@@tonycariello8478 Nope, people are still cruel. Even this video makes 'light's fun of his misery.
@@ydcee3123 People change as times change but something still holds true whether it's good or bad depends on whos asking
Nothing more ironic than apparent "moral righteousness" destroying one of this dude's sources of income/confidence and then high society being the ones to help him out
Same with the movie freaks. Banned in many countries because the actors were handicapped and people said they were exploited though they got well paid and wanted to do that movie.
Him and so many other sideshow freaks who were perfectly happy to be stared and laughed at so long as they got paid. They knew that without their shows, they'd be subjected to the same kinds of abuse Joseph was in Belgium.
The "snowflake generation", who feels the need to be upset over everything that even APPEARS to be less than politically correct, would probably be on this guy for using his appearance and deformities to support himself, as an insult to all handicapped people! How dare he parade himself before people, AND, made a living from it, to boot!
@@petergant1379 And it was a similar attitude that resulted in the death of freak shows and the unemployment of folks like him. Humanity never really changes.
So many rich snooty do-gooders ruin the lives of the poor while patting themselves on the back.
"I Cried Because I Had No Shoes Until I Saw A Man With No Feet." The Late Helen Keller...
poetic but weird. Helen was blind.
How did she see anything
"My favorite color is velcro."
-Hellen Keller
She literally is fake idc what anyone says
@@skylas711 I love it
Bless Joseph’s heart for being such a resilient person.
I shed a tear.
same same cah
facts
same
Same dude
Did u wipe afterwards?
Joseph's poem is so very beautiful. It is so bright and forthright. I would like to think that, if I met him when he needed help, I would have assisted him. I look to my own life choices, and from that I honestly think I would help. This is one of the MOST classic examples of beauty having nothing to do with physical appearance.
I know I would have stared and asked awkward questions, but one of those questions would be "does it hurt?"
I'm gonna be honest, I don't think I would have. Not because I would hate him, but because of fear. Most physical disabilities aren't contagious, and are recognizeable, but whatever he had was something totally different (but still not contagious as I know from our modern knowledge of medicine). If I saw him I would think the world was ending, because there is literally no logical explanation for him being the way that he was. I would have been scared. I would have run away. I would have thought he was a real life monster, the first of his kind. Patient zero. But maybe now, because of this video, things might turn out differently than I expect if I were to see someone with similar difficulties, but from the past, whenever I see someone who can't communicate, I look away. WE look away. Its just what we do. I'm sorry, Joeseph.
"Imprinting during pregnancy" is a belief that persists today. At least it did when my mother was pregnant with me (30yrs ago). My mom was a Mexican Woman, and when i was born, i had a rough/dry spot of skin. My mom was convinced that happened because she had a craving for aligator, after hearing that the US south eats it. Since she never had the chance to eat it, she believed it imprinted on me as a fetus. My dry spot of skin went away after a few weeks of baby lotion, lol.
The mother can have an epigenetic effect on the unborn baby.
Not like in your case though, that wouldn't make any evolutionary or even biological sense.
As a Florida Man, I can confirm that gator tail is delicious when you fry it.
My Chinese mom had similar belief.... Apparenrly as a baby I had glowing red mark on my forehead in the exact place my mom spat on a woman (whom my dad cheated with). At least the mark faded 😅
@@hannie.haneul I'm surprised that's all your mom did
@@backupnoname well, she was heavily pregnant back then, if she's not she'd probably karate chop the hell out off that woman. 😂
“I would be measured by the soul, the mind is the standard of the man” Yeah dude and you scored really high!
Most of us aren't even ugly, Kids are just judgemental jerks lol
True
True
True
now this is just true
Seriously? You are the judgemental jerk for judging children
Why don't they just sequence the Elephant Man's DNA? They could learn quite a lot about Him from a D.N.A. test.
Well, when research began shortly after Joseph’s death the technology wasn’t advanced enough to draw any conclusions. When research was put back into action a few years ago, his bones had unfortunately been bleached as his skeleton had previously been put on display in a museum.
@@big.ant538 But there are people today who have his condition. We could sequence them instead.
@3rd Way you should still let people Rest In Peace. You shouldn’t sequence their DNA against their own will.
@@Heisenburga he had a incredible diformity/condition and if they ever wanted to find a cure or learn more about it "sequencing against their will" doesnt really matter, especially after death, are they not suposed to study him?
@@sonyagriffy I get what you mean, like it would be for the greater good, but is still wrong to do that.
I won't lie. I literally paused the video and applauded alone in my room with tears in my eyes after the end quote by Joseph. Its truly beautiful ❤️. " The mind's the standard of a man" brilliant
same here... how utterly beautiful and touching
Hi. English isn’t my first language, can you please explain what he meant by that?
@@eehyetti I don't know either, this is such a weird sentence as a native English speaker
@@floorpanel8749 I see that people are praising it in the comment section but I didn’t get it one bit 🤔
I think it means the mind is the most important part of a person or at least the part to be judged on, rather than someone’s physical appearance
I was feeling sorry for myself today, when I clicked on this. What a lesson to learn from a man who endured more than anyone
This man's undescribable will to fight against the world makes him a winner.
I am ABSOLUTELY speechless and inspired by this man's strong and powerful will to live and push through..
And what a beautiful poem he wrote before he passed on.
Rest in peace
You can humiliate, tease, bully or hurt people but remember this: They are humans just like you.
Amen
Amen
Pedophiles are humans too. Forgive me for not wanting to be kind to them.
@@chrissibersky4617 Are you going to compare a poor guy with a horrible deformity who could do nothing about it with a worthless pedophile? Come on man. Bully pedophiles all you want but dont compare the poor guy in the video with pedophiles about a comment adressing the bullying he got throughout his life.
@@juanherrera9546
I'm attacking the argument that every human should receive compassion just because they are humans. That argument is evil.
bro when his mother died and his father was ridiculing him, idk y but that just made me angry. :/
It showed not only cruelty for poor Joseph, but utter disrespect for the memory of his deceased wife.
it makes me angry, in the same manor as 177013 or 143605
He always said his mother's death was the tragedy of his life.
@@yuugienjoyer man of culture.
Normal reaction
The mental strength of this guy was absolutely incredible. What a fighter.
I just want to hug this guy. What he was going through could not have felt good at all.
See how much a mother's love can help you? She definitely deserves so much credit for his unbelievable confidence to keep going and trying.
Some parents thinking the tough love approach is what is needed to give their kids confidence through life when it sometimes really doesn't.
It’s both. You need a balance of affection and firmness both are expressions of love. I’m sure she disciplined him fairly when needed but probably not often he probably had a very easy going personality. Each child is different.
@@sofiabravo1994 yep, exactly. Too much coddling is not good, either.
mom raised him well.. 🥰
you might get some illnesses from the dna be careful
"His mother was scared by an elephant during pregnancy"
Wait, so is _that_ where Joseph's stage name came from?!
Did you watch the video or nah
@@icedragon9097 clearly not 😂
Probably it all adds up if not then it's a weird coincidence.
Ever heard the theory of maternal impression ? For example my mom fell down stairs when pregnsnt with me and got a big bruise on her leg. She swears I was born with a birthmark the exact same place. It's not science more like superstition.
@@zii8568 skin roughened and turned grey. Mouth twisted made his teeth and tongue protrude giving him a vague elephant look
Rest in peace Joseph, you amazingly brave human. Your story will continue to inspire people until the end of our time. I am so happy people are calling you by your proper name now and not John. Rest in peace sweet human x
This is the first time I actually heard his life story, and I'm surprisingly touched. I never knew he had such an inspiring story, he was a truly resilient man
The poems touched me, goes to show how much he yearns for acceptance.
Damn, honestly hats off to him, his confidence never died out and he kept pushing, what a guy
mad respect for this man he is the real insperational story that we should tell
The fact he bounced back so many times just shows how much of a hustler and strong person he was
At least now he does not have to deal with the bull crap that the world has treated him with and can now rest easier in heaven with his mother.... May he RIP
amen brother
@@lunchgamin363 Indeed
Truly inspirational, and brings to attention the incredible importance of being a kind and gracious person in a oftentimes hostile world. He was perhaps the most perfectly human of any of us. Rest in peace, Joseph.
This man, Joseph, had such a beautiful soul. I’m in tears 😭
9:14 I keep trying to tell people that many acts in freak shows and circuses ended up like this. Yes, there was certainly exploitation, especially if you were any race other than white, but many of the most famous in sideshows made a choice and signed a contract to be in these shows. Often it would be the only work they could either get or physically perform, they were given protection and care, found a close group that accepted them, and with a good manager could often make enough money in a few years to comfortably retire (and pay for any additional health care or assistants they needed to survive.)
I could write a whole essay (and have for college) but in short: like many things, the morality of these shows weren’t black and white. There’s good and bad sides to them, and I find the history fascinating!
Wow. It was literally a choice between starving to death or get paid to let people laugh/feel sick at your appearance. Not much of a choice really.
Isn't there an actual community that many of them have retired to? Florida, maybe.
@@kenlee5015 Yeah, Gibsonton. I live a few miles away from there, it’s still a hub for circus and carnival workers. The International Independent Showmen’s Museum is small but enjoyable if you’re ever down here. :)
@@markbaker5599 and really not much of a choice when other people decide what's good for you
The greatest showman was a fantastic movie too because it portrays the rise of the Barnum and bailey circus.
hes so mentally strong and optimistic and still willing to make a living despite his deformities. you know it could take a toll for some ppl. hats off to him
"But the real story, is far more interesting and inspiring-"
"Hi I'm Jimmy Dean and these breakfast sandwiches are good!"
Wtf why ;-;
Given what we know today about radiation exposure that they didn't know then I wonder if he was somehow exposed to a large but non-lethal dose as a child. His deformities seem to be more severe on his right side while the left seems most normal. Were there any types of glowing toys in his time? Noting his skull and shoulder, perhaps a toy he would sleep with.
Intriguing hypothesis.
Radiation was not 'discovered' until after he was born, and how would he have come into such a large dose anyway? If it was in the toys when he was young you would expect a large number of children showing the same effects. Most toys would have been wooden in nature , or cloth dolls etc. at that time. And most working class children would not have had many toys.
@@janetpendlebury6808 Discovered is the keyword. They could have been using radioactive material without understanding its full danger. Perhaps a substance to warm a bed on a cold night or light a room. We know that as far back as the ancient Egyptians had used radioactive material in religions artifacts. Who knows what he could have been exposed to accidentally.
Keep in mind some toys back then were individually made not mass produced.
Also the toy idea was speculative. Could have been a pillow or maybe something he was exposed to only once.
@@janetpendlebury6808 Radiation being discovered in a later time, don’t negate the fact radiation has always existed. Ever heard of the Radium Girls? These women ingested radium with nearly every brushstroke when painting luminous watches, In the 1916’s. Radium is a radioactive element, and it was used in cosmetics, paint, toothpaste, and even food and drinks.
radiation exposure really doesn't cause these the kind of deformities and mutations - cancer, severe illness, burns and other injuries but direct mutations like this just don't happen.
If his mother/father were exposed to radiation, it's possible their DNA could have been mutated in some way but that's very unlikely since radiation wasn't observed and radium wasn't isolated until 1898, 8 years after his death
I cannot imagine his physical & emotional pain, truly heartbreaking.
Amazing story, Joseph was a great fighter! The world already beat him down to the extreme by him being born like that but then just his bad luck in general, it's brutal and unbelievably unfair. The back and forth of good fortune and the opposite is so interesting. His death is so sad, really wish he coulda kept going longer.
@@srikarkalluri9121 Of course but a death at 27 is a bit early
That's life for ya -_-
@@halejordan I hate when people say that shit
What a strong fighter. He upheld so much pain and torture most would have broke at the start these days. A true soldier who fought to live everyday even though he was faced with nothing but pain and almost 200 years later people are still giving him shit, ffs.
Wow! This man was treated brutally by random people because of his appearance. But he still had a good soul and heart. This shows that humanity can be really cruel.