Equus Lesson Plan

How might Alan's upbringing have influenced his thinking? For example, what does Alan's father mean when he says religion is all just "bad sex?" How did this attitude affect Alan's upbringing, and how is it connected to his condition?

It is a general principle of clinical psychology that one's childhood is a major source for beliefs and behaviors. You should take a moment to make sure your class understands this, and that they see that Dysart's excavation of Alan's childhood (especially in this section via conversations with his parents) is essential to Alan's psychiatric treatment within the world of the play.

Alan's father, an atheist, is suggesting there is something...