The author of Equus‚ Peter Shaffer‚ explores the idea of differing views of Religion by showing contrasting characters and conflicting points of view. Specifically focusing on how showing the contrasting ideas of sanity and insanity in regards to Alan and Dysart. These techniques of contrasting characters and contrasting points of view are used to explore the main idea of what is normal. The issue with points of view in Equus is that the characters all believe they are right and that their view
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Existentialism is the thought that reality has no meaning or purpose‚ and that this is something man must come to terms with through his life until he faces death. The pursuit of meaning is a prevalent theme in the work of Franz Kafka‚ especially so in his parable “Before the Law‚” in which a man refuses to face‚ or perhaps simply does not or will never realize‚ the fact that reality is meaningless. The central claim of existentialism is Jean-Paul Sartre’s proposition that “existence precedes essence”-
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Albert Camus was a French writer who is also a existentialism philosopher. He contributes to the development of the philosophy of existentialism‚ although he refused to be associated with any ideology. His philosophical thoughts contained in his writings. Camus delivers it by creating fictional characters and dramatic events‚ not only in the form of thought and analysis. The idea of absurdity‚ or things contrary to the common view‚ and his paradoxically thoughts contained in his works which one them
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a function‚ its existence must come prior. For example‚ the function of a knife‚ which is to stab and cut‚ did not come before the existence of the knife. The saying “existence precedes essence” is Sartre’s answer for the objection saying that Existentialism is pessimism. Sartre says no‚ existence is not pessimistic but instead it is optimistic. An individual does have action and choice to how they want to live their life and that there can be meaning. Existence can be described as biological‚ while
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Madison Deller AP Literature 2nd period Equus Discussion Questions 1. Scene I: In Dysart’s opening monologue‚ he make a comparison between himself and a horse’s head. What is the purpose of this metaphor? How does this comparison give us insight into his Dysart’s character? The purpose of this metaphor is to show the reader that Dysart has become trapped by his education and knowledge of the world. This gives us insight to Dysart’s characters because the reader can see his struggle with
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In Equus by Peter Shaffer‚ Martin Dysart is the psychiatrist of Alan Strang. He is assigned to investigate Alan’s horrible crime of blinding six horses with a spike. During his investigation‚ Dysart questions his career and life and whether it’s his passion. Even though Alan Strang suffers throughout the play‚ Dysart seems to be the one to experience true tragic. As soon as Dysart heard Strang’s story‚ he questions everything that he accepted in his life. This is learned when he starts to trust
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meaning. The reason that he believes man must exist before he can make the choice to create himself stems directly from the idea that there is not God to direct him and give him a meaning a priori. Sartre’s views stem from a form of atheistic existentialism that states that if god does not exist‚ there is at least one being in whom existence precedes essence‚ a being who exists before he can be defined by any concept‚ and that this being is man" (15). Man is nothing because
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Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is a masterfully written novella about Gregor Samsa‚ a man who devotes his life to his family and work‚ for nothing in return. Only when he is transformed into a helpless beetle does he begin to develop a self-identity and understand the relationships around him. The underlying theme of The Metamorphosis is an existential one that says that any given choice will govern the later course of a person’s life and that a person has ultimate will over making choices. In
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The Simpsons: Laughing at Ourselves Jessica French Professor Jean Graybeal The Existential Imagination 16 October‚ 2003 Comedy gives no better an answer to existential question than any other form of art or literature. It does however‚ give such a familiar yet ironical response‚ that the relief attained is often more satisfying than other medium. Jerry Rannow states‚ “humor is necessary to life.”1 The Simpsons is for many‚ the quintessence of comedy and offers a wonderful philosophical study
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God" (Shaffer 62). Normality exists in a medical textbook; weight of this number‚ intelligence quotient of this quantity‚ social functioning of this quality. Alan Strang and Victor of Aveyron fail to meet standards of normality. In Peter Shaffer’s Equus‚ Dr. Martin Dysart attempts to normalize his patient Alan. In François Truffaut’s L’Enfant Sauvage (1970)‚ Dr. Jean Itard sought to domesticate the wild boy. Both Dysart and Itard feel as if their endeavors may be futile. The doctors feel jealousy
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