From Peculiar Physical Characteristics to Exploitation: The Tragic Life of Julia Pastrana

 

Julia Pastrana: The Woman Whose Extraordinary Life and Death Stunned the World

 Julia Pastrana, a Mexican woman whose story is extremely painful and shocking.  She was born in the highlands of Mexico in 1834, and suffered from a unique physical condition from her childhood.  He had unusually high body hair, covering his entire body.  This condition was incomprehensible and strange to the people of the time, which made Julia's life a spectacle for others.

 Julia's mother gave up her care and gave her up to a man, Theodore Lent.  Theodore Lent owned a circus and wanted to promote his business by introducing this woman to the public.  He portrayed Julia as a "woman of the devil" and "half-man, half-ape", which became a terrifying and strange sight to the people.  Julia's physical condition made her a wonder among the spectators.  Her exposure to the circus caused her severe psychological distress, but it was her compulsion that kept her accepting the job.

 Sometime later, Theodore Lent marries Julia.  The marriage was more business than love, as Theodore wanted their children to have the same qualities as Julia in order to exploit them in the circus.  But this dream never came true, as Julia died 48 hours after her first child was born.

 Even after Julia's death, Theodore Lent did not let him rest.  He handed over Julia's body to a doctor to be preserved and exhibited in museums.  Julia's body was presented to the public as a mummy as "half-man, half-ape" and Theodore made money from it.  Even after Julia's death, her body continued to be put on strange exhibits in various countries, and her body was even stolen.

 In 2005, Julia's mummified body was found in Norway, where Mexican artist Laura Anderson Barbara helped retrieve it.  Finally, almost 150 years after Julia's death, she was brought back to her native Mexico and given a dignified burial.

 The story of Julia Pastrana is an example of the complexity and cruelty of human behavior.  This story reminds us that some people suffer not only in life, but also after death.  Julia's journey of life and death teaches that it is against human values ​​to make fun of any person because of their physical characteristics.