Equus Play Analysis

Equus is a play which was written by Peter Shaffer in 1973. The play won many awards for its controversial topics and revolutionary performance. During the time of the plays publication, consumerism was on the rise, causing what Shaffer referred to as a “worshipless” life. In Equus contrasting points of view around worship are utilized to demonstrate the effect of worship on the individual’s life.
Alan is a 17-year-old boy who worships horses instead of God. Religion plays a strong role in Alan’s life. Dora Strang, Alan’s mother strongly believes in God and raises Alan to do the same. In Alan’s modified Christian religion, he replaced Jesus with a horse, Equus, which in turn became the object of his worship instead of the religion that Dora had taught him. After Alan had committed the act of blinding the six horses

The pair are close friends but have quite contrasting opinions when it comes to Alan’s case. Hesther believes that Alan needs to be fixed in order to be a fully functioning member of society. Hesther often speaks of how Alan is in pain, and that Martin has the power to take it away and thus make him normal. In contrast, Martin believes this will destroy the passion that by creating just another person. “The Normal is the good smile in a child’s eyes—all right. It is also the dead stare in a million adults. It both sustains and kills—like a God.” This is one example of Martin’s beliefs of the normal. Martin speaks of how if he returns Alan to normality, Alan will become a shell of the man he once was, “He’ll be delivered from madness. My desire might be to make this boy an ardent husband – a caring husband – a worshipper of abstract and unifying god. My achievement however, is more likely to make a ghost.” Martin’s beliefs are represented in this contrast by Shaffer to demonstrate how taking away ones’ worship is just as damaging as having something to