"Equus is a play of tragic conflict in a collision between two different kinds of Right: Dysart's professional obligation and Alan's passionate ca...

Introduction

The source of conflict in Peter’s book titled Equus is the profound envy of Dysart towards the ability of Allan to worship passionately and primitively. According to the writer, the conflict does not lie with regards to what is right or wrong, rather between two rights. In essence, the writer surmises that, Dysart’s professional obligation to treat the boy and the boy's primitive and passionate ability to worship is the center of the tragic conflict. The problem with the boy is the psychosexual union of the horse and boy, as well as, the creation of Equus is the center of the conflict. However, this is termed as the solution to the modern alienation. Alan’s initial response to Dysart's questioning with advertising jingles is his way of relating to outside opinions. He also views Dysart as a customer and himself as a product. Dysart works on it by becoming Alan’s cheerleader through encouraging him to repeat the tune (Peter 15).

Alan dislikes his position as an appliance store attendant and lists appliance manufacturers as his "enemies". He takes a weekend job looking after horses, thus providing him with contentment. Jill informs Alan that the affection of horses fits perfectly as a “substitute" for sex (Peter 90). His actions show he hates horses. In the story behind this book, the satire of Alan Strang’s atheist father marriage to a religious woman is the domesticated cold war. Alan’s father, Frank Strang, realizes that his son has religious tendencies as he replaces Christ’s image with a horse as a punishment for his disobedience in watching television. Frank considers television as a time waster and negative influence on people. Alan begins worshipping the horse. It is essential to note that Equus is Latin ...

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... understands the actions of Alan that makes him confused as he doubts his integrity and vocation. This conflict reflects the current problem in the society since the modern families lack guidance and understanding on the right choices and effects of their choices. Lack of passion and desire at work and in normal life makes Dysart admire Alan’s life. He thinks that the life that Alan leads needs to exemplified, he says, “that boy has known a passion more ferocious that I felt….and I envy it” (p82). In the play's last scene Dysart says, "There exist a certain sharp chain in my mouth at the moment that never stops" accepts that his censored tongue has trapped him in his situation. However, the psychiatrist relates the source of his view change in his overworked status “in a provincial hospital” (p10).

Works Cited

Peter S. Equus. London: Simon and Schuster, 2011.