Characters' reactions to John Merrick

Most people who are introduced to John in the movie react with horror and disgust, but I notice that some people who should be more understanding are also reacting in a similar way, but more restrained, like Treves' wife or the theatre lady.

I saw this tonight, and was thinking about their hypocrisy, but then it struck me that they are not reacting to John's personality or knowledge negatively at all, but are saddened that such a kind, gentle soul should be trapped within such a deformed shell of a human body, and that is the greatest tragedy of all to them - they sympathise with him in that regard.

And then of course, there are the others who see nothing but a freak or a monster to be taken advantage of, like Bytes or that hospital porter, and their moronic, ignorant customers.