Appearance vs. Reality in "Equus" Analytical Essay by Master Researcher
Appearance vs. Reality in "Equus"
An analysis of the play, "Equus", by Peter Shaffer. .
# 44226
| 734 words
| 3 sources
| MLA
| 2002
| 
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Description:
This paper explores how appearance and reality are intertwined in Peter Shaffer's play "Equus". The paper discusses how this play is about one psychiatrist's struggle with the appearance vs. the reality of what he does for a living. The paper explains that Dysert sees the appearance of his profession - healing - as in direct opposition to what he thinks he does - he rips children's psyches apart, eliminates the psychiatric illness and coolly examines it, disregarding the damage that this does to the whole of the child's personality and being.
From the Paper:
"Equus is really about one psychiatrist's struggle with the appearance vs. the reality of what he does for a living. He is faced with a moral dilemma: to cure his young patient, he has to force out something Dr. Dysert sees as very special in the boy. It will be a package deal. Dr. Dysert can't just exorcise what has cause the boy to commit horrific acts without dismantling things, which make the boy individual and unique as well. In this dilemma, Dysert sees the appearance of his profession - healing - as in direct opposition to what he thinks he does - he rips children's psyches apart, eliminates the psychiatric illness and coolly examines it, disregarding the damage that this does to the whole of the child's personality and being."As first presented in the play, Dysert appears like a knowledgeable and competent child psychiatrist who does an excellent job of helping children recover from severe disorders and even psychoses. The judge, Hesther Salomon, accepts as a given that he is the best of the child psychiatrists in the area, and wouldn't consider referring the very disturbed Alan Srang to anyone else."
Cite this Analytical Essay:
APA Format
Appearance vs. Reality in "Equus" (2003, November 10)
Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/appearance-vs-reality-in-equus-44226/
MLA Format
"Appearance vs. Reality in "Equus"" 10 November 2003.
Web. 25 September. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/appearance-vs-reality-in-equus-44226/>