Crimes In Peter Shaffer's Equus

Given the circumstances, some crimes are justifiable: a poor man steals to feed his family, or someone kills in the name of self-defense. However, stabbing a hoof pick through the eyes of six innocent horses seems inexcusable at first glance. Peter Shaffer, in his introduction of Equus, writes that his purpose in writing the play is “to create a mental world in which the deed could become comprehensible” (Shaffer 9). Before introducing Alan Strang to Dr. Dysart, Hesther prefaces that most people, including professionals like psychiatrists and magistrates, have been disgusted by Alan’s crime and that Dysart is his last hope (I. 2 11-12). Here, Shaffer anticipates that the audience, like fictional society, will detest Alan for his crime. By characterizing

Similar to a pagan or Greek god, the omniscient Equus calls for humankind’s return to nature through the form of any individual horse. Where Frank was an atheist, Dora was a fervent Christian who taught Alan that Jesus was crucified due to the sins of mankind; in this moment, the theme of suffering for meaningful worship manifests in Alan’s obsessive love for Equus. To become a worthy adherent, Alan actively inflicts suffering on himself in the name of Equus. One night, Frank discovers Alan flagellating himself with a coat hanger, yet Frank cannot confront his son and leaves Alan feeling embarrassed (I 13 47). Knowing that Frank and Dora and the greater society would shame his worship of Equus, Alan hides his inner conflict and only freely expresses his religion once every three weeks at the stables—his temple. While riding Nugget one of those nights, Alan says,“[He] wants to BE [Equus] forever and ever[.] Make [them] One Person” (I. 21 71-72). In Alan’s mind, Equus is a personal God, his “Godslave,” that he feels obligated to protect and ride into battle against his materialistic foes (I. 21 70). If he were to fail this mission by say, desecrating the temple, then Alan would feel immense guilt for betraying Equus. Since Equus and Alan have such a deeply passionate bond, Equus would never forgive selfishness or adultery. Clearly, Alan has had to repress his burning feelings for Equus, and on the night of the crime, those pent-up feelings burst into hopelessness and violent rage against the six horses. As Hester says, “[He has] been in pain for most of his life. And [Dysart] can take it away” (II. 25 80). Dysart, a man who similarly questions the compatibility between Normal and passionate worship, comprehends why Alan, a troubled teenage boy, would violently blind the seemingly all-seeing horse god. As Dysart sympathizes with his patient, the audience lends