The tragic true story of Elephant Man, Joseph Merrick

When Joseph Merrick began to grow a “trunk” on his face, he became a household name. But his story is only just reaching a conclusion.

With his “trunk-like” facial growth, curved spine and enormous misshapen skull, the “Elephant Man” was the main attraction at London sideshows, the star of the so-called freakshows popular in the Victorian period.

While most of the people paraded on stage as part of the shows had a tragic story — of disability, abandonment and homelessness — Merrick’s tale is perhaps the most upsetting story of all.

From a young age, Merrick had developed scoliosis, skull bone outgrowth, with skin protruding from his face and an overgrown right arm.

He came to be known as the Elephant Man due to the skin on his face.

His facial deformities led people to see Merrick as a “monster” and a threat to society. But the opposite was true. He was said to be a kind and gentle man trying to survive in a society that didn’t care for him, aside from a few people who tried to help him.