Granger AP Reads discussion

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I thought that this book was very interesting. It was not at all what I was expecting. I thought it was interesting how the author chose to focus on Dysart too, not just Alan. While working with Alan, Dysart began to question his life choices and career. I think that while Dysart was helping Alan, in a way, Alan also helped Dysart. The author did an amazing job at making sure the reader understood why Alan did what he did. The audience isn't left wondering what happened or why Alan made those decisions. I also like how the author was able to make Equus more than just a horse. Equus seemed to have control over Alan, and I think that by the end, Equus had some control over Dysart. Equus made Dysart question a lot of things that he didn't question before. One of my favorite lines from the play was, "...to go through life and call it yours--your life--you first have to get your own pain. Pain that's unique to you. You can't just dip into the common bin and say 'That's enough!'" (Shaffer, 80). I love that Dysart talks about making it your life and getting through your own pain. You don't really get to choose what trials and situations you will be put in, but you do get to choose whether or not you get through it. You have the choice to make it your life and getting through what is thrown at you.

This book was fascinating. It was not in any manner what I was anticipating. I thought it was intriguing how the creator decided to concentrate on Dysart as well, not simply Alan. While working with Alan, Dysart started to scrutinize his life decisions and profession. I believe that while Dysart was helping Alan, as it were, Alan additionally helped Dysart. The writer worked superbly at ensuring the peruser comprehended why Alan did what he did. The crowd isn't left considering what occurred or why Alan settled on those choices. I additionally like how the creator had the option to make Equus something other than a steed. Equus appeared to have command over Alan, and I imagine that by the end, Equus had some authority over Dysart. Equus made Dysart question a great deal of things that he didn't address previously. I love that Dysart discusses making it your life and overcoming your own torment. You don't generally get the chance to pick what preliminaries and circumstances you will be placed in, yet you do get the opportunity to pick whether you overcome it. You have the decision to make it your life and traversing what is tossed at you.

Equus was, different, to say. It was interesting to see something meant to save and secure a life be the cause of so many problems - religion. It was also exciting to explore the two sides of normal -The people around Alan vs Alan's "normal". Dysart dedicated his career to helping troubled kids, but as he works with Alan, he's more interested in learning Alan's normal rather than fixing him to everyone else's normal. Dysart had determined that Dora's constant nagging about Christianity led Alan to lose his mind. Alan's left in pain and feels confined by the rituals he's created to celebrate the God, Equus. At the end of the novel, Dysart has taken Alan's pain into his personal life. He questions his own passions and the pain of the children he's previously "cured". "All right! I’ll take it away! He’ll be delivered from madness. What then? He’ll feel himself acceptable! What then? Do you think feelings like his can be simply re-attached, like plasters? Stuck on to other objects we select? Look at him! …My desire might be to make this boy an ardent husband—a caring citizen—a worshiper of abstract and unifying God. My achievement, however, is more likely to make a ghost!" (Shaffer, 108). He realizes the "normal" societies sets isn't as great as it seems and that his curing is just removing the passions of the child which can be extremely damaging.