Incarceration In Equus

In Equus, Shaffer uses Dysart’s monologue to explore whether it is better to rehabilitate or incarcerate children whom commit crimes, while in Border Crossing, Barker uses dialogue. Shaffer uses Dysart’s opening monologue to show that while rehabilitation seems more effective than incarceration, it can leave people with no worship or imagination. Dysart states that ‘[he’s] officiating at some... ritual sacrifice… the sacrifice is a herd of children,’ indicating that Dysart knows that although he is rehabilitating children, he is also destroying who they are by 'sacrificing' their passion and worship. Shaffer shows that while seeing a psychiatrist helps rehabilitate children whom have committed crimes, it can also leave them without passion …show more content…
Green, Danny’s ex-headmaster at Long Garth, says '[he] doesn't care what [Danny's] done. [He] doesn't even want to know what [he's] done.' Although Mr. Green thinks he is helping the boys, he stifles their ability to resolve their problems. They both show that Danny was denied the opportunity to assess why he committed the crime and nobody was available to help him change his mental state, illustrating the idea that only incarceration does not benefit the perpetrator. Both authors explore the idea of whether rehabilitation, opposed to incarceration, is better for a child who has committed a serious crime. Barker uses dialogue to show why incarceration is worse for children and Shaffer uses Dysart’s monologues to show that although it can have negative effects, rehabilitation with a psychiatrist is better for them to re-enter …show more content…
Shaffer uses the interviews conducted between psychologist Martin Dysart and his patient Alan Strang to demonstrate the power struggle within their relationship. In their first interview, Shaffer uses the stage directions when Dysart fails to relax Alan as ‘[he] glares at him.’ Alan glares at Dysart, as well as leaving and ‘pass[ing] dangerously close to Dysart,’ which shows Alan trying to gain the power in the relationship, through intimidation. Alan needs to have the power within the relationship as his mother, Dora, and father, Frank, deprive him of this at home. This is also an attempt to gain power by making Dysart uncomfortable. However, Dysart is able to cope with this through the use of a placebo, referred to as the 'truth drug.’ Alan then reaches a state in which he is comfortable reenacting his past. Combining this with questions, Shaffer reveals that Dysart always had the power within his relationship with Alan. Similarly, in the novel Border Crossing Pat Barker uses the relationship between psychologist Tom Seymour and his patient, Danny Miller, to demonstrate a constant power struggle. Barker explores this through the use of the first interview conducted by Tom. In Danny’s interview, when he was much younger, Danny ‘[stared] at him… [as] a deliberate act of defiance.’ Danny's stare indicates that he is trying to gain control of