Tod Browning's "Freaks" is very interesting so far in the story. The "freaks" as they are refered to are simply just circus performers. Many of them do have certain deformities that would set them apart from the rest of society, but does that really make them freaks? They still have thoughts and feelings just like each and everyone of us, but still they are treated as though they are not even human at all. This, of course, is really sad and unfair, and can really make one think what it would feel like to be in a position similar to the circus performers. How would you be able to convey your personhood to the rest of society if society will not even give you a chance? This is basically how Hans is treated by Cleopatra. Cleopatra is not deformed like a majority of the circus troop and she uses her beauty to seduce Hans into falling in love with her. This is wrong and she is just using him to get to his fortune. This is no different than how society treats people who they feel are lesser or on a lower level than everyone else. Society can take advantage of those of lesser value and make them feel completely worthless. Cleopatra comes across as being dominant over the rest of the circus and does not seem to care at all for any of them.
The freaks in the movie are treated more like passive children than actually adults. Hans is a perfect example of this claim, because although he is an adult man, he looks more like a small child. He dismissed by some of the other circus performers because of his appearance, which is sad to watch, because he wants to be treated like every other adult. Cleopatra does no justice by pretending to love him and playing with his emotions. She is the real freak in this movie, because she does not have a heart at all, and finds pure enjoyment in destroying someone else's life. She only cares about herself and only sees herself as being the perfect image, when in fact she is more disfigured that any of the other circus performers. This will most likely have an impact later in the movie as she is about to marry Hans as some of the freaks are beginning to catch on to her plan.
(David Roberts, Post 20)
Really excellent observations on the film thus far. You touch on several key issues:
ReplyDelete1. When we look at the lives of the freaks in the circus are they really that freakish? Are they really that different from us?
2. Individuals with disabilities being viewed and treated as children or as child-like.
3. Who is the true freak of the film? Is it the freaks themselves, or is it Cleopatra? Is Cleopatra disfigured on the inside rather than the outside?
We will see what happens on Friday!