Impact of Mental Illness

Sixteen Horses demonstrates both the overt and covert impacts of mental illness. Simon overtly leaves dead people and sickness in his wake when he decides to take revenge on his father and Rebecca. There are some victims of Simon’s plot that are not as obvious, like Frank, Michael, and the town of Ilmarsh in general.

Frank is one of the covert victims of Simon’s plot for revenge. Simon blackmailed Kate, one of Frank’s vets, to provide him with the supplies he needed for his plans. Frank lost one of his vets when Kate died by suicide. He also lost his business and his reputation. Frank’s clinic had been handed down to him by his father, but after people learn about Kate’s involvement with the deaths of the horses, they stop using Frank as their vet. He changes the...