Context and Characters
The opening section establishes the historical and thematic foundation of Equus in 1940s Britain. The period's increasing economic prosperity and rise in consumerism serve as crucial backdrop elements.
Highlight: The play critiques how mass-produced culture leads to what Shaffer terms a "worshipless way of life."
Example: Alan Strang's psychological state is demonstrated through his obsessive recitation of advertising jingles, showing how consumer culture penetrates even unconscious thought.
The character introductions focus on two central figures:
Martin Dysart - A psychiatrist whose professional confidence is challenged by Alan's case, forcing him to question the purpose of his practice and his own life's passion.
Quote: "Throughout the play voices his ambivalence about the true purpose of psychiatry and the way it often eliminates passion in an effort to force people into narrow interpretation of what's normal."
Alan Strang - A 17-year-old boy whose complex relationship with religion and horses leads to a violent act.
Vocabulary: Psychotic state - A mental condition characterized by a disconnection from reality.