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Equus By Peter Shaffer

1133 Words5 Pages

“Equus” proves to be a timeless drama that delves into the darkest depths of human life. The concepts of adoration and praise are intimately related in “Equus”. Religious identity is the driving force of Peter Shaffer’s literary work. Throughout the play, Shaffer mulls over religion and the idea of unorthodox exaltation negatively impacting an individual’s morale. Alan creates the character Equus and his horse religion, which parallels Christianity. The biblical allusions in “Equus” employs Shaffer’s theme of unconventional means of worship, corrupting the character Alan Strang, thus causing his frame of mind to be negatively impacted. Peter Shaffer alludes to The Last Supper in this tragedy as well. The Last Supper is Jesus’ last accounted …show more content…

Shaffer uses the horses chains, referred to as the chinkle-chankle, as a representation of this. “Alan: He [does not] like it so late, but he does it for my sake. He bends for me. He stretches forth his neck to get it” (67). The horse subjects himself to Alan by choice, just as Jesus does to his followers. Both are a much stronger force that allow themselves to be controlled by a much weaker entity. Jesus also willingly forgives his followers sins. Alan believes that Equus does the same for him. These characters are a foil of each other. “Dysart: Why is Equus in chains? Alan: For the sins of the world. Dysart: What does he say to you? Alan: ‘I see you’ ‘I will save you’’ (64). Jesus dies for the sins of the world, otherwise known as original sin. Through these scenes Shaffer alludes to the sacrament of confession, the forgiveness of sins and Jesus’ crucifixion. Alan becomes convinced that Equus will save him from his sins and that he understands his prayers, just as Christians believe that Jesus not only dies for their sins, but will come back to judge the living and the dead, saving them once more. Through these scenes Alan’s schizophrenia becomes evident as he truly believes that the horse is talking to him. Alan’s frame of mind is deteriorating the more he praises this

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