Edward Mordake (sometimes spelled Mordrake) is the subject of one of the most chilling and tragic urban legends in medical history. Born in the early 19th century into an English aristocratic family, Mordake’s story is both fascinating and heartbreaking, as it combines rare medical anomaly, psychological torment, and a tale of unfulfilled desperation.
The Man with a Face at the Back of His Head
The most shocking aspect of Edward Mordake’s story is that he was allegedly born with a second face—not just a birthmark or deformity, but a fully formed face on the back of his head. According to the legend, this second face resembled a young woman’s face, and while it couldn’t see, speak, or eat, it was capable of emotions. The legend claims that the second face would sneer while Mordake was happy and smile while Mordake wept, an unsettling and eerie contradiction to his own emotional state.
The face was described as having a pair of eyes that would stare out unblinkingly, a mouth that would drool, but it was entirely non-functional—it could not speak, nor eat, nor see in the conventional sense. Still, it was said to whisper horrible things to Mordake at night—”things one would only speak about in hell.” These whispers were supposedly the source of his psychological torment, leading him to describe the face as a “demon” that haunted him throughout his life.
The Curse of the Second Face
Mordake’s life was marked by intense psychological suffering, as he was trapped in a body that seemed to mock him with its dual nature. The second face was said to be completely unresponsive to his commands, its smiles and sneers independent of his will. This made him feel as though he was living with a constant observer, someone or something always present to torment him, regardless of what he did.
According to accounts of his life, Mordake repeatedly sought out medical professionals to find a solution to his condition, requesting that the second face be removed. His desperation grew, and he reportedly begged doctors to perform an operation that would rid him of the “demon face.” However, despite his pleas, no doctor dared attempt to remove the face, likely due to the unprecedented nature of the condition and the inherent dangers of such a surgery during that time. Some accounts even suggest that Mordake’s condition was viewed as mystical or supernatural, with doctors unsure of how to treat a case that defied both medical and rational explanation.
The Tragic End of Edward Mordake
Unable to escape the torment of the second face, Mordake’s suffering reached a breaking point when he was just 23 years old. Unable to bear the constant whispers and the eerie presence of the face, Mordake is said to have committed suicide. His tragic end underscores the mental and emotional strain of living with a condition that not only caused physical discomfort but also seemed to alienate him from any sense of peace or personal identity.
While Mordake’s death is often cited as part of his legend, there is no concrete evidence to verify the exact circumstances or the existence of his condition. Some have speculated that Mordake’s story may have been exaggerated over the years, possibly influenced by the mystical ideas surrounding conjoined twins or craniofacial anomalies. Others believe that the tale of his dual-face may have been inspired by a rare medical condition known as craniopagus parasiticus, a form of conjoined twinning where a parasitic twin is attached to the back of the head, potentially leading to a situation where a second, undeveloped face could exist.
The Mystery of Edward Mordake’s Legacy
The legend of Edward Mordake has remained fascinating to this day, often cited as a horror story in the realm of urban legends. His tale has appeared in books, documentaries, and even in popular culture, including fictionalized accounts of his life. His condition, if it truly existed, remains one of the most bizarre and disturbing examples of the human body’s potential abnormalities. The fact that no definitive historical or medical records exist to confirm his story has only added to the mystery, keeping the legend alive in the annals of both medical history and dark folklore.
For some, Mordake’s tale serves as a symbol of profound human suffering, a reminder of how physical deformities can have devastating effects on a person’s mental health and quality of life. For others, it remains an unsettling mystery, a creepy story passed down through generations, evoking curiosity and horror.
Conclusion: Fact or Fiction?
The legend of Edward Mordake remains one of the most haunting and enigmatic stories in both medical and urban legend history. Whether fact or fiction, it speaks to a deep fear of the unknown, of how the human body might sometimes defy the laws of nature and logic. The idea of living with a second face, a mirror of oneself that does not respond as one would hope, taps into our primal fears of self-doubt, alienation, and the loss of control over our own bodies. Whether Mordake’s story was exaggerated or based on truth, it continues to fascinate and horrify—a reminder that some mysteries, no matter how bizarre, remain tantalizingly unsolved