Freaks Stereotypes

Title In the early twentieth century, people often ridiculed and took advantage of those with a disability or who might have been different from them. In Tod Browning’s 1932 film Freaks this is exemplified through a group of circus performers (of both genders) who are with and without disabilities. Throughout the film, Browning utilizes his scenes excellently to show how the movie both challenges and reiterates early twentieth norms about disability and gender in society. In the film, there were basically two ways in which the “normal” circus performers treated those with disabilities. The first was with malice and neglect for others feelings. It was evident from the beginning that Hercules and Cleopatra (Cleo) were the antagonists who were

Hans, a little person, had been admiring Cleo while she performed. He even made the comment to his fiancé, Frida (another little person), that Cleo is the most beautiful big woman he has ever seen. Cleo realizes that Hans admires her greatly, and she uses that to manipulate him. She drops her coat in order to see whether or not Hans will pick it up. This in a way, was a test to see if Hans would do anything for her because of his adoration for her. This small gesture proved to be the beginning of the manipulation of Hans by Cleo in order to make fun of and take advantage of him. Another scene that exhibited how Cleo and Hercules mistreated Hans is when Hans comes to Cleo’s wagon to visit her. Both Cleo and Hercules were in the wagon and when Hans knocked on the door Cleo told Hans to come back later because she was “taking a bath.” When Hans left both Hercules and Cleo laughed uncontrollably because to them it was hilarious to think that a “freak” could be possibly loved by a beautiful “normal” woman. An additional influential scene in which Cleo’s disregard for handicapped people was obvious was the dinner scene. She had just married Hans in order to steal his inheritance. At the dinner she began to poison Hans through the champagne and became drunk herself. This

There were times in the movie were it was clear that women were viewed as second-class citizens at the time. A vivid example of this was when the “half woman-half man” saw Cleo and Hercules kissing each other. Hercules became enraged at the woman and gave her a punch to the eye. Cleo thought this was hilarious, again having no compassion for people with disabilities. This attitude toward women just echoed feelings of the time. Domestic violence was terribly prevalent in the early 20th century as men expected women to be subservient to them. Browning nonchalantly placed this scene in the film, probably receiving little surprise or thought at the time, but today this act would be viewed as vile and