Fractured Bonds Examining The Tensions
As the years progressed, the world-famous conjoined twins, Chang and Eng Bunker, found themselves increasingly distanced from their original mentors. The departure of Hunter and Hale from their lives marked a turning point, with Abel Coffin’s prolonged absences shifting the burden of their care onto his wife, Susan. However, Susan’s approach to their wellbeing was far from nurturing; she frequently overlooked the twins’ pleas for basic provisions, leaving them without essentials, from horse feed to adequate clothing.
In their time of need, Chang and Eng reached out to their manager for support, only to encounter the insurmountable challenge of the Coffin family’s disdainful attitude. The manager, Charles Harris, struggled to bridge the gap as the Coffins wielded their authority with an iron fist.

Under the guise of partnership, the brothers were met with harsh realities: they were expected to perform despite sickness, shoulder extra burdens in Abel’s absence, and were unwittingly lodged in substandard accommodations.
The stark revelation that they were viewed not as equals but as subordinates stung deeply. The Bunkers endured being paraded on stage while ill and navigated the added strains without the support of their absentee promoter. It became clear that their relationship with the Coffins was untenable. Recognizing their diminishing autonomy, Chang and Eng resolved that the time had come to assert their independence and sever the professional ties that bound them to such exploitative conditions..