Meanings and Representations – Elephant Man
Text B exhibits an autobiography of Joseph Carey Merrick – notoriously known for his
severe cranial deformities, later to be more popularly known after attending a ‘freak show’
and subsequently gaining the title of the ‘Elephant man’. Text B guides the reader through the
disheartening events of Merrick’s life long struggles, especially when it came to school,
friends and family. The text is saturated with the use of personal pronouns, ‘I’, creating
anaphora, particularly during the first section of the text. Therefore, this piece can be
identified as anecdotal from Merrick’s point of view, however many aspects of the memoir
do not reflect Merrick as being the primary source of information, as we can see many ideas
and experiences from his Mother’s point of view. Written in chronological order, the text
embodies a motionless tone, lacking blame or self-pity, which is a reoccurring theme
throughout the text as Merrick is consistently factual and is acceptant of his deformities. The
writer uses many linguistic devices to convey the individual difficulties faced during his
lifetime, such as emotive language, simile and juxtaposition. Through the analysis of
grammar, lexis and semantics, the meanings and representations of Text B will be fully
discussed.
Lexically, the writer utilizes an array of archaic language which signifies the time period of
the text. For instance, Merrick uses adjectives such as ‘lame’ to describe the way he views
himself – this lexeme has been linguistically re-appropriated and pejorative since the time
period, as it was previously known as ‘disabled or impaired in any way’, though is more
currently used in association with horses. Furthermore, the lexeme ‘deformed’ is repeated
numerous times throughout the text, ‘formed’ signifying normality and exemplar, while the
prefix ‘de’ connotes the negative or imperfect form of what most people perceive as normal.
Through the analysis of figurative language, the writer creates meaning through a descriptive
and narrative description, this represents his condition as difficult to comprehend, but equally
as difficult to depict to an audience. Additionally, the writer uses adjacent adjectives
frequently, often incorporating lexical onomatopoeia; ‘taunted’ and ‘sneered’. This allows the
audience to engage with the text on a deeper level, stimulating the readers’ senses as a
method of triggering an emotional response. Direct speech is evident throughout the text,
where the writer discusses those influential to his own perspectives of himself, perhaps
representing a lack of autonomy as the text almost speaks for itself and creates its own pity or
pathos in the reader. Later, Merrick addresses his audience towards the end of the text, ‘kind
readers’, the use of the adjective ‘kind’ represents how his perspective has shifted and now
believes those who read his autobiography are doing it out of empathy rather than out of spite
or to ‘taunt’ him.
The use of a mundane simile – ‘as large as a breakfast cup’, requires a universal pragmatic
understanding rather than a niche audience. Here the writer represents himself as reaching out
to a diverse audience, as he is clearly not seen to be targeting particular people. Specifically,
the use of this simile absorbs the readers as they can create a meaningful image, while
apprehending the meaning Merrick is trying to convey. The constant presence of
juxtaposition within the text creates absurdity as the writer is in constant conflict with
himself. However, this represents the writer’s growth through his trauma and visualises the
personal progress he has made. For instance, the juxtaposition between ‘comfortable’ and
‘uncomfortable’ is evident throughout the text, this embodies the development of Merrick’s
mentality and acceptance of himself. Furthermore, the use of the oxymoron, ‘perfect misery’
establishes the writer as light-hearted over his ‘deformity’, as if it is an imminent part of him.
Text B exhibits an autobiography of Joseph Carey Merrick – notoriously known for his
severe cranial deformities, later to be more popularly known after attending a ‘freak show’
and subsequently gaining the title of the ‘Elephant man’. Text B guides the reader through the
disheartening events of Merrick’s life long struggles, especially when it came to school,
friends and family. The text is saturated with the use of personal pronouns, ‘I’, creating
anaphora, particularly during the first section of the text. Therefore, this piece can be
identified as anecdotal from Merrick’s point of view, however many aspects of the memoir
do not reflect Merrick as being the primary source of information, as we can see many ideas
and experiences from his Mother’s point of view. Written in chronological order, the text
embodies a motionless tone, lacking blame or self-pity, which is a reoccurring theme
throughout the text as Merrick is consistently factual and is acceptant of his deformities. The
writer uses many linguistic devices to convey the individual difficulties faced during his
lifetime, such as emotive language, simile and juxtaposition. Through the analysis of
grammar, lexis and semantics, the meanings and representations of Text B will be fully
discussed.
Lexically, the writer utilizes an array of archaic language which signifies the time period of
the text. For instance, Merrick uses adjectives such as ‘lame’ to describe the way he views
himself – this lexeme has been linguistically re-appropriated and pejorative since the time
period, as it was previously known as ‘disabled or impaired in any way’, though is more
currently used in association with horses. Furthermore, the lexeme ‘deformed’ is repeated
numerous times throughout the text, ‘formed’ signifying normality and exemplar, while the
prefix ‘de’ connotes the negative or imperfect form of what most people perceive as normal.
Through the analysis of figurative language, the writer creates meaning through a descriptive
and narrative description, this represents his condition as difficult to comprehend, but equally
as difficult to depict to an audience. Additionally, the writer uses adjacent adjectives
frequently, often incorporating lexical onomatopoeia; ‘taunted’ and ‘sneered’. This allows the
audience to engage with the text on a deeper level, stimulating the readers’ senses as a
method of triggering an emotional response. Direct speech is evident throughout the text,
where the writer discusses those influential to his own perspectives of himself, perhaps
representing a lack of autonomy as the text almost speaks for itself and creates its own pity or
pathos in the reader. Later, Merrick addresses his audience towards the end of the text, ‘kind
readers’, the use of the adjective ‘kind’ represents how his perspective has shifted and now
believes those who read his autobiography are doing it out of empathy rather than out of spite
or to ‘taunt’ him.
The use of a mundane simile – ‘as large as a breakfast cup’, requires a universal pragmatic
understanding rather than a niche audience. Here the writer represents himself as reaching out
to a diverse audience, as he is clearly not seen to be targeting particular people. Specifically,
the use of this simile absorbs the readers as they can create a meaningful image, while
apprehending the meaning Merrick is trying to convey. The constant presence of
juxtaposition within the text creates absurdity as the writer is in constant conflict with
himself. However, this represents the writer’s growth through his trauma and visualises the
personal progress he has made. For instance, the juxtaposition between ‘comfortable’ and
‘uncomfortable’ is evident throughout the text, this embodies the development of Merrick’s
mentality and acceptance of himself. Furthermore, the use of the oxymoron, ‘perfect misery’
establishes the writer as light-hearted over his ‘deformity’, as if it is an imminent part of him.
