The Elephant Man

by Bernard Pomerance

"The Elephant Man" is based on the life of John Merrick, who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century. A horribly deformed young man, who has been a freak attraction in traveling side shows, is found abandoned and helpless and is admitted for observation to Whitechapel, a prestigious London hospital. Under the care of a famous young doctor, who educates him and introduces him to London society, Merrick changes from a sensational object of pity to the urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati. But his belief that he can become a man like any other is a dream never to be realized.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Classics, Fiction, Theatre, Historical Fiction, Historical

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, brilliant and moving, The Elephant Man play by Bernard Pomerance is a sensitive look into John Merrick's mind, what his thoughts and feelings might have been. A man trapped in a hideously deformed body, he never showed his anger or despair to others, only his doctor starts to understand the man behind the mask.
Women, little understood either, can sympathize. A famous actress, Mrs. Kendal, is asked by the doctor, Treves to meet Merrick

TREVES: I am convinced they (women) are the key to retrieving him from his exclusion. Though, I must warn you, women are not quite real to him----more creatures of his imagination.

Mrs. Kendal: Then he is already like other men, Mr. Treves.

TREVES: So I thought, an actress could help. I mean, unlike most women, you don't give in, you are trained to hide your true feelings and assume others.

Mrs.Kendal: You mean unlike most women I am famous for it, that is really all.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Victorian London, THE ELEPHANT MAN is based on the true story of John Merrick. (real name Joseph Carey Merrick)

As a horribly disfigured young man, John lived most of his incredibly short life of 28 years as a freak attraction at traveling side-shows until he came to the attention of Frederick Treves, a surgeon at London Hospital, who thankfully took him under his wing giving him an education, an introduction to society and a place to call home.

Reading this sad play, learning how John spent his days, why he couldn't lay down or speak clearly led me to do a bit of research on John's life that brought to light discrepancies in the play, but made for a memorable and touching read.

John was a kind and intelligent man who only wanted to be like every other man.

[Peiman E iran · Rating 3 out of 5]

‎دوستانِ گرانقدر، داستان این کتاب برگرفته از زندگیِ مردی انگلیسی به نامِ جوزف مریک میباشد که ما در داستان او را با نامِ <جان مریک> میشناسیم و نمایشنامهٔ این زندگیِ غمناک، در 21 پرده نگاشته شده است
‎جان مریک، 21 سال دارد و به دلیلِ یک بیماری و سندرمِ ناشناخته، سرِ بسیار بزرگی دارد و یکی از دست و پاهایِ او نیز بسیار بزرگ است.. پوستش ضخیم است و زگیلهایِ بزرگی بر روی پوستش دیده میشود و استخوانهای بدن و سرش نیز برآمدگی های زیادی دارد... مردم در موردِ او سخنهای ضد و نقیض و خزعبلاتِ زیادی میگویند، برخی میگویند که مادرش موردِ تجاوزِ یک فیل قرار گرفته است!!! برخی میگویند مادرش در دورانِ حاملگی، نگاهش به یک فیل افتاده است و ترسیده است!! متأسفانه، اینگونه خرافات و موهومات، در کشورمان ایران نیز بسیار دیده میشود.... از دیدگاهِ دانشِ پزشکی و ژنتیک، احتمالاً برخی مشکلاتِ ژنتیکی و سلولی برایِ جان پیش آمده که توضیحش خارج از حوصلهٔ این ریویو میباشد..... در هر حال، موجودی پست و دوره گرد به نامِ <بایت> او را در سیرک به مردم نمایش میدهد و با او درآمد زیادی کسب میکند... روزی از روزها پزشکِ جراحی به نامِ <فردریک ترِوِز> که در دانشگاهِ لندن آناتومی آموزش میدهد و در بیمارستانِ بزرگِ لندن مشغول به کار است، جان مریک را دیده و با جلبِ رضایتِ صاحبِ سیرک، یعنی همان بایتِ طمعکار، او را به بیمارستان میبرد... در آغاز همه از او میترسند، و موردِ مخالفتِ پرستاران و رئیسِ بیمارستان <دکتر کاگام> و دیگر اعضایِ هیئت مدیره، قرار میگیرد... ولی با گذشتِ زمان همه با او به خوبی و مهربانی رفتار میکنند.. البته تفاوتش این است که زمانی او را در سیرک نمایش میدادند و حال او را با لباسِ مناسب و در اتاقِ بیمارستان به اشرافی ها و شخصیت هایِ مشهورِ انگلستان نشان میدهند... جان مریک، خواندن را به خوبی میداند و با آنکه تغییر شکلی که در فک و استخوان بندیِ دهانِ وی ایجاد شده است، شمرده شمرده سخن میگوید، و این موضوع سبب میشود تا به زودی مشهور شود... شخصیتهایِ هنری و بازیگرِ مشهورِ تئاتر <بانو کندل> و حتی شاهدختِ ولز نیز به دیدنِ او آمده و نامه ای از ملکه ویکتوریا برایِ سپاس و ستایش از مدیرانِ بیمارستان و هدیه ای از سویِ ملکه برایِ جان مریک می آورد
‎همه چیز برایِ جان به خوبی پیش میرود، تا آنکه عده ای موجودِ پست و آزاردهنده، سبب میشوند تا مدیرِ دوره گردِ سیرک یعنی بایت، به اتاقِ جان مریک وارد شده و او را از بیمارستان دزدیده و با خود از انگلستان خارج کند
‎عزیزانم، بهتر است خودتان این داستان را خوانده و از سرانجامِ جان مریک و زندگیِ تلخِ او، آگاه شوید
---------------------------------------------
‎امیدوارم این ریویو در جهتِ آشنایی با این کتاب، کافی و مفید بوده باشه
‎<پیروز باشید و ایرانی>

[Nasrin M · Rating 3 out of 5]

اسقف: کاش می‌فهمیدم چه می‌گفتید و منظورتان چیست؛ ولی در مورد تسلایی که عرض کردید باید بگویم که در کلیسا یافت می‌شود.
ترویس: بله اما يقين دارم ما محضِ تسلی زاده نشدیم.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

My high school put this play on during my 11th grade year and I read it at that time. The play meant alot to me because several of my friends were acting in the play and it was talked about alot. It was one of the first serious plays that I saw in my little town.

Our school had an excellent drama teacher that could have gone anywhere in the country and it was a high school performance, but it was a well done production staring high school kids. Mr. Salter really was an amazing teacher and he energized so many kids to be interested in a history of theatre and culture not typical in our small town.

I haven't read it sense then, but I have good memories of this.

[Jessaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book about a wonderful man, a gentleman.

[Laura Leaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I couldn't find a way to steal away from work to go see Bradley Cooper act in this play, I bought a copy to read in the hopes I could just imagine how he might translate the role of Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man whose undiagnosed medical condition disfigured his face and body so horribly. I am left still feeling the need to see it on the stage.

This short, spare script moves rapidly through twenty-one scenes. Some of the scenes are less than two typed pages. As a result, reading the script probably offers less depth than a live performance where the actors' movements and expressions might deepen the words. Nevertheless, I found the play very moving. The surgeon, Frederick Treves, parallels Merrick in importance. The dynamic between them reminds me of the psychiatrist-patient relationship of Shaffer's fascinating play Equus. By examining Merrick and controlling his environment while he lives out his days at The London Hospital, Treves's own failures become apparent.

My favorite part is Scene XII, called "Who Does He Remind You of?" In this scene, the cream of London society speaks short lines about who Merrick reminds them of. All the lines end in "like me." The famous actress Mrs. Kendal says, "Well. He is gentle, almost feminine. Cheerful, honest within limits, a serious artist in his way. He is almost like me." The Duchess says, "I can speak with him of anything. For I know he is discreet. Like me." They see in Merrick what they want to see. Treves later says: "Yet he makes all of us think he is deeply like ourselves. And yet we're not like each other. I conclude that we have polished him like a mirror, and shout hallelujah when he reflects us to the inch. I have grown sorry for it."

The sad thing about this play is that I still know next to nothing about Merrick, the human being. Still, there is enormous importance in the revelations regarding society's reaction to disfigurement. In the last scene of the play, the administrator for The London Hospital is reading his report to the investors about the death of Merrick. When he asks Treves if he's forgotten anything, Treves says, "Well. He was highly intelligent. He had an acute sensibility; and worst for him, a romantic imagination. No, no. Never mind. I am really not certain of any of it." He exits, then comes back to say, "I did think of one small thing" and the administrator tells him "it's too late."

What, I asked myself, is the "small thing"? I think it was to say that he was a man.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play is a snippet in the life of John Merrick.
Before reading this play I read about Joseph Merrick's life. It was heartbreaking the deformity that beset this intelligent man. They had no idea in the 1800s what caused his condition. There is still a difference of opinion today.
Joseph, John Merrick life for many years was one of being presented as a sideshow attraction. People paid to see his deformity.
It was a time where sideshows were acceptable entertainment.
He met Dr. Frederick Treves and spent the last year's of his life at the London Hospital.
Merrick was only 27 when he died. He was found lying stretched out on his bed. He had to sleep sitting up because of the weight of his head. They believed he wanted so badly to be normal that he attempted to lay down and the weight of his head caused asphyxiation.
His life was hard and heartbreaking to imagine. This was a man who was a normal man that could not live a normal life because of a tragic medical condition.

[George K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Το συγκεκριμένο θεατρικό έργο βασίζεται στην αληθινή ιστορία του Τζόζεφ Μέρικ, ενός Άγγλου που απασχόλησε την επιστήμη και την κοινή γνώμη της Βικτωριανής Αγγλίας, εξαιτίας μιας σπάνιας και πολύ σοβαρής ασθένειας, που του προκάλεσε τεράστιες δυσμορφίες στο σώμα του. Για να μπορέσει να ζήσει, έγινε θέαμα σε περιπλανώμενο τσίρκο (Freak Show), μέχρι που τράβηξε την προσοχή του χειρούργου Φρέντερικ Τριβς. Τελικά, μετά από κάποιο τραγικό περιστατικό, ο Μέρικ ουσιαστικά έγινε μόνιμος κάτοικος του νοσοκομείου του Λονδίνου, υπό την ιατρική επίβλεψη του Τριβς. Το θεατρικό έργο είναι αν μη τι άλλο αρκετά καταθλιπτικό και μαύρο, όμως έχει κάποια σημαντικά πράγματα να πει, ενώ δίνει και λίγη τροφή για σκέψη. Επίσης καταφέρνει να μεταφέρει με έντονο ρεαλισμό την ατμόσφαιρα και το κλίμα της εποχής, καθώς και τον κοινωνικό στιγματισμό ανθρώπων με κάθε είδους παραμορφώσεις.

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams."

I discovered 'The Elephant Man' was a play, after watching the film I was looking more into the life of John Merrick and came across it.
John Merrick, had unsual deformities. He was a freak show atttraction until he was taken into hospital, where he was looked after by Fredrick Treves, a physician. Treves sees John as the man he is and tries to help him get accepted into society, showing how under our skins we are all the same and all we want is to be accepted. The play shows how quick people are to judge based on just looking at someones appearance.

[Stanisław Wokulski · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Who does he remind you of?"

"The Elephant Man" by Bernard Pomerance was the first play I've read in a long time. At the beginning it was a bit hard to get a grasp of all the characters and their stories. I thought I got used to it, but near the end I got lost again and didn't quite understand the ending. I suppose it may have been because I hadn't heard anything about John Merrick's - the main character's story before. However, It didn't stop me from enjoying my reading experience. The plot wasn't that remarkable, but I found scene XII where each character said how they relate to John extremely interesting. Their answers were really various what allowed us to see what a diverse character John was. But my favorite part of the play was Mrs. Kendal. She seemed to actually understand John unlike other characters and I was invested in her book discussions with him.
Overall, I recommend reading this play, but mostly because of it's length. A 100 pages more and I wouldn't say it's worth your attention.

[Shlomo Touhis]

The Elephant Man was a moving play which featured a young man going through a problem that no one could understand. He faces a disease that leaves his body disfigured and his face -- beyond hideous. This true story captures the love in which he receives -- the love that he never thought would come to him -- once he is taken under the treatment of a young doctor. While i read The Elephant Man, I tried to picture myself in his un-adored shoes, as i thought it would be nearly impossible. Though, as this is a common classic in writing, I found Bernard Pomerance's literature not at all difficult to understand. He was able to let the reader slip into the life of John Merrick (The Elephant Man) and have the reader believe that they were visiting him themselves. I certainly felt as if this were the case. For, as I allowed myself to sink into the book, I was found myself quite discontented at his hard life. I found myself asking, "how could someone allow a mere 21 year-old man go through anything as horrifically depressing as this?" As I am at an age where I understand more clearly why many people in this world have to take pills and go through serious mental issues due to depression, I see this as a beyond serious case. Throughout the piece, one is left begging for the John Merrick to experience the best of a life, for as his condition might depress him, it also has the potential to kill him. In fact, the reader KNOWS that John Merrick will die, and it is basically guaranteed. It is truly a tragedy, regarding the poor life of this innocent man. One is left to really embrace the fact that we are lucky to have not gone through what John Merrick himself had endured. After I read the book, I was left with a sort of empty feeling, gnawing at me. I took this feeling as curiosity, and went on to immediately research the case of John Merrick. This indeed was based on a purely true story, and after seeing the movie as well, I am left adorned by The Elephant Man.

[Suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before my last year's trip to London, I somehow failed to check the theater schedule, and on a bus tour I had an incredible sinking feeling when I spotted the theater with The Elephant Man sign. That feeling worsened when after the tour I checked the show dates at a ticket booth and noticed the play had closed just on the previous day. The most interesting story in the whole world, one that I've been obsessed about for years, and just a few months before I was disappointed I couldn't see Pomerance's play on Broadway, where it got rave reviews. As an effort to console myself and because the next best thing is to read the play, I loaned it from archive.org.

"[T]he most disgusting specimen of humanity". "[A] perverted object". These are the words Frederick Treves used to describe Joseph Merrick (sometimes mistakenly named as John), one of the most famous figures of the Victorian era, in The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences (1923). Showing symptoms at a young age, Merrick ended up severely deformed, and had to sleep sitting up to make sure he wouldn't die because of the weight of his head. His deformities also prevented him from working in regular jobs, and after a few years in the workhouse he decided to try his luck in a travelling sideshow. It was when he ended up in London on display at a Whitechapel shop that he first met Frederick Treves. After an unsuccessful stint in Brussels, Merrick returned to London and was eventually allowed to stay at the London Hospital for the remainder of his life.

Fiction about real people is in many ways problematic. As in David Lynch's The Elephant Man (1980) (whose production company ended up being sued because of the similar plot to Pomerance's play), Pomerance's The Elephant Man shows Merrick as the victim of patronizing Treves, and as the center of attention of his high society acquaintances who lavish him with gifts, but don't seem to be interested in him as a person. They all see something of themselves in Merrick, making him a blank canvas where others can project their fears and desires.

It's troubling, because victimizing Merrick more than is necessary turns him into a mere object of pity. It might make it easier to explore the themes associated with his life story, but it's a questionable strategy. In Pomerance's retelling, Merrick is physically abused in Brussels, although despite his reluctance of speaking about his years in the freak show, there's no reason to presume there was any misconduct. According to the newest research, Treves embellished some aspects in his memoir (he didn't realize the freak show was Merrick's way of earning a living), but unless evidence to the contrary is found, I'd rather see Merrick being remembered as a sensitive theatre-loving young man, who spent time reading books and constructing models of buildings. He did have difficulties, but he tried his best to survive.

If one tries to forget the discrepancies and unfortunate interpretations of Merrick's character, Pomerance's play is absolutely an interesting piece of fringe theatre. With only 21 short scenes (including a striking dream sequence), it offers a different perspective to Merrick's story. He was under good care until his untimely death at the age of 27, but Pomerance challenges to think about the notion of being on display. How many donators and high society members actually cared about Merrick as a human being instead of as a charity case? Was Treves a real friend, or just someone who considered him as an interesting medical anomaly, and who tried to change him into something more normal?

TREVES: Have we nothing to say, John?
MERRICK: If all that'd stared at me'd been sacked - there'd be whole towns out of work.
TREVES: I meant, "Thank you, sir."
MERRICK: "Thank you, sir."
TREVES: We always do say please and thank you, don't we?
MERRICK: Yes, sir. Thank you.
TREVES: If we want to properly be like others.

[Daniel Bryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance is a script for a play, based on the life of John Merrick, a psychically disabled man, with numerous body mutations and defects, that made him look a bit like half-man, and half an elephant. After being abandoned by his family, he spent a few years in a workhouse, in very cruel conditions, and after five years, he decided that he will make people pay for watching him, as it would be the best way to earn anything. After years of being a deformed attraction for the London public, he decided to discontinue this fatal engagement and spent the rest of his life in London Hospital.
As the story is written as a play script, and it's quite short, I think most people would read it through in one sitting, so emotions accompanying the book would mostly depend on the reader's mood. At least that was the case when I was reading it because I was really tired, and it kinda helped me to relax, cause it's pretty calm, well and sad at the same moment, but I think if I would be in a different mood, my impressions would be a lot worse.
Overall, it's a really interesting plot, based on a true story, sometimes pretty emotional, and inducing some philosophical thoughts, I can easily recommend it to everyone who isn't discouraged by it's form.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elephant Man is based on a powerful tale about Joseph Carey Merrick, with the help of a famous surgeon John regains his dignity after years of being a side-show freak. Although I have not read this play by Bernard Pomerance I had the pleasure of seeing this rendition at a local theatrical playhouse. A true story about being different, seeing beauty within people and finding happiness when everything around is grim. Heartwrenching!

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to see this live. John Merrick's story is one of heartbreak with the longing to connect.

[setoude.s · Rating 4 out of 5]

کلیت داستان جذاب و تکان دهنده بود

[Zosia · Rating 3 out of 5]

However, I'm not usually the biggest fan of plays, this one stole my heart. It is a story about human cruelty and kindness, our neglect and dislike for otherness. We judge everything by its looks and not for what it has to offer.

John Merrick a.k.a Jonathan Merrick was a real human beeing. This story is almost fully based on real events. Author very carefully showed the changes that have had taken place in the social perception of the so called Elephant Man. How from an abused outcast became one of the most famous people in town.

At first only one man wanted to help him, treated him as a human being - a doctor. He placed him in a hospital and introduced him to some friends. John became a revelation in the news therefore popular. He got everything he asked for and still there were only few people who actually listened and wanted to thoroughly get to know him. Not to judge him only by his looks.

It is not only a well thought theatrical play, but also a very common and still relatable topic.

I enjoyed it and hope you also will.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it a second time today because I'm going to use Treves's great "corsets" monologue for an audition on Friday.

It's not nearly as cold and expressionistic as it seemed to me in 2012-- I suppose anything would seem icy and detached compared to the (wonderfully) sentimental Lynch film. There's a lot of wit and genuine human connectivity in here-- for example, in scene ten, where the lovably spiky Mrs. Kendal puts her feet up and gives Merrick his first experience of a woman with her guard down. This is to say nothing of scene fourteen, which features Kendal with her (ahem) hair down, a nice scene not featured in the film and which does indeed go against the classy and somewhat mannered nature of that piece.

The depiction of Merrick feels somewhat schizophrenic; I sense that there was an impulse to not depict him as an angelic, abused childlike innocent, yet having him constantly end scenes with a scornful, quotable witticism ("If your mercy is so cruel, what do you have for justice?") was not the way to that, I think.

A good play with minor tonal inconsistencies and a couple of jagged, archly pomo presentational choices, but nothing that comes close to sinking the piece, which is generally full of appropriately literary, thoughtful writing that intelligently balances its very real pathos with whiffs of well-deployed, witheringly English humor.

[Wayne Jarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great script that leads to a very powerful production on-stage. Having worked with the script (playing the character of Frederick Treves), I found that the language and stage direction easily led to the development of the character - as well as to a finished play that affected the audience and transmitted the messages of the play to the audience.

To those readers who enjoy reading scripts, I highly recommend this one. However, the treatment of a small section of the spoken text took me a couple of reads. For example:

John Merrick (The Elephant Man) speaks "First chance I had to bathe regular. Ly." Initially, I thought the script must have been scanned because this looked like an Optical Character Recognition problem. However, I soon realised that what the writer meant to explain was what I would write as "First chance I had to bathe regular ...ly." - emphasising Merrick's speech impediment.

If you are not a reader of scripts, I highly recommend the viewing of a Production of The Elephant Man as soon as the opportunity arises. A good production will prove very rewarding.

[Willow Redd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year, I finally watched the David Lynch film; and as I did with a few other movies last year, thought I would also read the book. However, then I learned that the play had no connection with Lynch's film other than the subject matter, so I put it off. Of course, since the play and the film are based on a real person, the structures of both are similar enough that I could have followed up one with the other... Hindsight.

I've actually been sitting on this book for a while, having picked it up from a friend while we were both taking part in a yard sale. It was this and another book of screenplays that I traded him for a DVD box set. Felt like a fair trade.

It's interesting seeing the differences in interpretation between Pomerance and Lynch. I'll eventually read the actual published history that Treves wrote (along with Montagu's book, both mentioned in the play's introductory note) which inspired Pomerance to write this play.

[Majid Alturki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving, heartbreaking, inspirational and a lovely, lovely read! Beautifully written as well. I have never been so engaged with a script as much as I was with The Elephant Man. This story is about Joseph Merrick, an individual with hideous deformities who's been dubbed by his 'owner' Freddie Jones, a freak show organizer that dehumanizes and uses Merrick merely as a source of income. Merrick gets rescued by Dr. Frederick Treves, a surgeon who helps him escape the freak show and Jones. This story portrays the darker side of humanity and how human oddities were dealt with, and how looking past physical appearances enables us to realize the beauty deep within each and every individual's soul, no matter how 'odd' they were. I must say, I had to hold my tears back during some parts; it's been such a tough story to digest, but definitely a lovely one that I will re-read!

[Paul LaFontaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disfigured English man from the late 1800's is sheltered by a doctor who discovers him trying to make money as a freak show attraction. Society embraces him and he becomes a chance for people to reflect on their own lives.

A short play on a fairly well-known topic, I liked the insights that people derived from the interaction with the protagonist. The issue of how and who "views" the oddity runs throughout and makes for a thoughtful experience.

Recommend

[Shawn Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great play. This one comes down to how well it is performed. The play itself is wonderfully written, but leaves a lot of room for directors input. With the right director and cast, this is a moving play on all levels.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Available at BBC Radio 7. A seriously disfigured man is rescued from a Victorian freak show.

[Trav Rockwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Merrick a courageous, strong and beautiful human being. A short sad life. Brilliant read, page turner, started and finished all in my lunch break. Keen to see the play now.

[freckledbibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as enjoyable as the movie! Sad story. 4.5 stars

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

you, me, other people -- physicians, nurses, celebrities, the profane crowd, the carnivalesque voyeurs -- and institutions -- for-profit hospitals, nonprofit hospitals, abject collective of masturbatory MBAs deciding who is human enough to receive treatment -- nauseate me.

if my peers read this play, all of whom were invited to do so and none of whom chose to, things would remain the exact same because they have lost sight of the inviolable humanity of the ill person across from whom they sit, so affectively masqueraded.

anyways, doctors and hospital CEOs are near- categorically bad and this play is gutterly beautiful.

[Ashley (Taylor’s Version) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though this was a play I had to read for school, I actually enjoyed it.
It’s a play based on a disfigured man who, after a brief career as a professional “freak” is brought to refuge by a famous doctor at the London hospital. There they train him to “normal” and learn societal etiquette.
At times I did loose interest put I had to push through it for school.
I did have reread lines a couple of times.
I didn’t understand the writing 100% of the time.
And the ending lowkey pissed me off.