The text revolves around Dysart, a psychiatrist, experiencing a period of absolute disillusionment with society, and his place in it. This reflection is spurred on by a patient he must treat, Alan. Alan, a youth, is in the care of the psychiatric hospital because of the hideous crime he committed – the blinding of six horses.

The text was published in 1973, a time of immense social upheaval, and thus, change. Libertarian views were re-emerging as a result of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movements in the US. The composer clearly values

A Marxist would value the text in different ways. Marxists sympathise with Frank, Alan’s socialist father, valuing him as the voice of reason, who is unfairly silenced at times by the composer. He is unjustly burdened with the blame for Alan’s problems. As well, a Marxist values the text as a strong argument against religion, believing it to be, as stated by the founder of Marxism and quoted in the text, “Religion is the opium of the people.” Marxists interpret Alan’s demise as a symbolic of the damaging effects of religion. As Frank said, “Religion…its religion that’s at the button of this.”

Also evident in the prior quotes is the fact that all females in this text are clearly the intellectual equals of the males. Even Dora, who characterises the traditional woman, is strong and clever as demonstrated in her confrontation with Dysart. Feminist value this intellectual equality in the text. (Need to expand on this more with quotes, explanations, etc)

Some topics in this essay:
Alan Dysart, Alan’s Marxist, Vietnam War, Shaffer’s Equus, Absurd Dysart, Theatre Absurd, Alan Alan, , Dysart Feminist, Frank Alan’s, females text, class system, view text, composer text, society text set, issue conformity, lives feminist, alan’s demise, whilst composer, composer values, whilst composer text, composer text intended, text dependant,