59 pages • 1-hour read
Equus
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Essay Topics
How does Shaffer use the structure of the play, particularly the interplay between past and present, to shape the audience’s understanding of Alan’s psychological development?
In what ways does the motif of vision and blindness operate as both a literal and symbolic device throughout the play?
Examine the role of the chorus in Equus. How does the chorus shape the tone of the play and guide the audience’s emotional and intellectual response?
How does the character of Martin Dysart function as both a participant in and a critic of the psychiatric system?
To what extent can Alan’s creation of Equus be seen as a response to post-religious modernity?
Examine Shaffer’s use of language and rhythm in Dysart’s monologues. How do these passages differ stylistically from the rest of the play?
What is the significance of classical mythology in the play, especially in Dysart’s references to ancient Greece? How does mythology connect Dysart and Alan?
In what ways does the play critique the conformity and emotional repression expected in middle-class British life during the 1970s?
How does Shaffer invite the audience to question the idea of “curing” someone like Alan? Can Alan ever be cured? How does Shaffer present the idea of “curing” in the play’s ending?
Shaffer uses religious imagery and liturgical language to elevate Alan’s experiences to the level of sacred ritual. What effect does this have on the audience’s perception of his actions?
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