Realism And "The Elephant Man"

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Realism took the world by storm in the early 19th century. (The Contemporary Drama of Italy 64) Its concepts and ideas were illustrated in art, everyday life, and in philosophy. The movie “The Elephant Man” directed by David Lynch, provides perfect examples of realism and its core ideals. The movie, which was created much later, is set in a way that makes it appear like it was conceived when realism was prevalent. In the film, “The Elephant Man,” there are many scenes that represent realism and its entirety. In one of the scenes, Dr. Frederick Treves lets John Merrick know that there is nothing that the hospital can do to return him to normal. “No. We can care for you, but we can't cure you” (The Elephant Man.) After the doctor says this, John Merrick replies, “No. I thought not” (The Elephant Man.) This is a scene that provides realism examples. The idea that there is no cure is a realistic point of view. The fact that John automatically accepts this answer is also a realistic stance. Instead of having hope or looking for other options, he opts to accept his dim fate. In another scene of the film, the character John Merrick is hiding in a corner while spectators are chasing him. As they draw closer, John shouts out “I am not an animal, I am a human being!” (The Elephant Man.) The fact that the crowd did not show compassion and still pursued him as an animal provides an example of realism. Even though John could speak, the crowd of people could not accept him because of his outward appearance. His appearance made him weak and different from the rest, thus making people think that he is lower than them. They look at him as an animal, and not on their level. This is realism because it shows the idea that we are not all equal, and if people have deformities, they are weak and deserve to be treated as such. Realism is not about compassion and happy endings. Realism
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