Humanizing Jeffrey Dahmer?
Jeffrey Dahmer raped and murdered 17 men and boys. Some of his murders included necrophilia, cannibalism and necrophilia (Nichols, 2006). He was sentenced to 15 terms of life imprisonment in 1992 for 15 of the murders. A 16th one was added for his first murder when he was tried in Ohio (Nichols, 2006). One could argue that Dahmer was a monster. But would some people still try to humanize him? Why?
I watched the 2002 film Dahmer by Larry Ratner and David Jacobson because I was interested to learn more about Dahmer and how society views him after researching him for our first class presentation. I wondered if the film, which is slightly fictionalized, would vilify him or humanize him. I personally believe that the film humanized him and made him more likeable to the audience than if they were to just read about his murders.
Firstly, the film does not cover the full scope of Dahmer’s crimes. They only show three of his murder victims, of which he only dismembers two and has sex with one. He is also portrayed as regretful and scared after he commits his first murder, something that is not necessarily true according to his MMPI response in Nichols’ case study (2006). The film also does not mention how Dahmer thinks of his victims as objects and not people (Nichols, 2006).The film does show a sequence where Dahmer rapes multiple men at a gay bar, but he is beaten up after they find him out, so the audience may feel some sympathy because of that.
Secondly, the film actually vilifies his last victim, Tracy Edwards (named Rodney in the film) who escaped Dahmer, by making him hypersexual and prone to violence. He comes back to Dahmer’s apartment after the first time he leaves when Dahmer tries to choke him. He also uses a knife against Dahmer (did not happen in real life).
Thirdly, the film adds dialogue for Dahmer that convey his frustrations and feelings about his parents’ divorce and being gay. He says these to his victims in the second person, as if he was talking about them, but the audience is supposed to understand that they are his own thoughts. While these thoughts humanize Dahmer, they also try to get at his motivation behind the crimes. As we discussed in our presentation, the trauma of his parents’ divorce and being left alone may have been a triggering factor in the formation of Dahmer’s criminal life. Furthermore, the film highlights Dahmer’s possible internalized homophobia which may have encouraged him to hurt other gay men.
Larry, R. (Producer), Jacobson, D. (Writer), & Jacobson, D. (Director). (2002). Dahmer [Video file].
Nichols, D. S. (2006). Tell Me a Story: MMPI Responses and Personal Biography in the Case of a Serial Killer. Journal of Personality Assessment, 86(3), 242-262. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa8603_02