Scenes 19 and 20 Summary

These two scenes parallel Treves' growing awareness of his moral deformity with Merrick's freedom, through death, from his physical deformity.

Scene 19 - They Cannot Make Out What He Is Saying Merrick prays with the Bishop as Gomm and Treves discuss Merrick's impending death. Gomm comments on the increased money and reputation Merrick has brought to the hospital. Treves comments bitterly that Merrick's heart is so weak that it might give out even while he's praying. Treves reiterates his previous comment (Scene 12) that as Merrick has become more and more emotionally normal his physical condition has deteriorated. He wonders whether there's a parable of human existence there - "to become more normal is to die." Gomm comments that he can't understand what Treves means, and then as he goes out tells him to stop worrying - he's been knighted and his clients...