Outcasts of Society: A Look at American Horror Story's Freak Show

More than likely, someone has walked in a public area and has seen somebody that does not look “normal.” How did they react once that person was seen? Did the person continuously stare? Point? Laugh? What did they call them? Most people call them freaks. That is the scientific definition for someone that may have a physical abnormality. These so-called freaks make up the storyline of the fourth season of the popular TV series: American Horror Story, Freak Show. Freak Show is set in Jupiter, Florida, and shows the desperate journey of survival from the dying breed of carnies in 1952. This show consists of diversity in gender roles that are discriminated and forced to be outcasts in society. Major baggage, insecurity, and many ironic situations
Since the show is based on those that are not normal, the characters are more atypical. Because this show was set in the 1950’s, the gender roles are especially odd for that time. For instance, Ethel was a bearded woman, yes that’s right, a woman, and yes that probably upset the gender norm. In an essay done by Sean Trainor, Trainor claims the bearded lady of the 1850’s was analyzed and it was proven that “[through] examining the career of Madame Clofullia, the United States’ first famed bearded lady . . . Americans found her appearance neither subversive nor transgressive . . . Those who saw her in the 1850s accepted her womanhood as a matter of fact-one that required no explication, examination, or defense” (Trainor, 550). In this, it is questionable as to why Madame Clofullia gained respect and was not judged more for such a noticeable abnormality especially during her time period; compared to Ethel’s life where although respect was given to her from the other freaks it was rarely received in public places. In one scene, Ethel goes to a doctor and he gives her a diagnosis that she only has six more months left to live. She started to cry but told him that it was not because she was going to die, but because he was the first person to look past her flaws and treat her with respect. Another character, known as Strongman, lives his days as being tough but is quietly fighting
It is a type of insecurity that one chooses whether or not to reveal to others. No matter how normal or abnormal that person is, they will have skeletons in the closet. Freak Show is a good example of showing how a community filled with so many different people all have a past and something they may not be proud of. For instance, Elsa Mars, a very steadfast independent woman, took on the role as ringleader and mother figure of her freaks. She had a persuasive way that captivated everyone she came in contact with especially when it came to her baggage. Because she had been at the freak show for so many years, and it was always understood that Elsa was normal with no deformity, it came as a shock to her freak family when her baggage was revealed that she had wooden legs. This proved to the freaks that even the most flawless-looking people have