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Exploring Equus: Alan Strang and Consumerism

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charlotte

05/04/2023

Drama

Equus (Peter Schaffer) context, key characters and themes

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Drama

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Component 1: drama and theatre

Exploring Equus: Alan Strang and Consumerism

Peter Shaffer's Equus play analysis explores psychological trauma, religion, and societal pressures in 1940s Britain. The play delves into the complex relationship between passion, worship, and mental health through the story of Alan Strang and his psychiatrist Martin Dysart.

Key aspects include:

  • The backdrop of post-war British consumerism and its impact on individual identity
  • Exploration of religious worship versus modern secular society
  • Character study of Alan Strang in Equus as a troubled teenager struggling with psychological repression
  • Critical examination of psychiatry's role in normalizing behavior
  • Themes of consumerism in Equus play and its effect on human connection
  • The tension between traditional values and counter-cultural movements
...

05/04/2023

60

EQUUS CONTEXT • 1940s Britain to increasing economic pooperity oming the working class boorgex of wealth & love of consumer products contrib

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Character Dynamics and Relationships

The second page explores the complex family dynamics and relationships that shape Alan's psychological state.

Frank Strang, Alan's father, embodies the conflict between atheism and religious belief in the household.

Definition: Atheist - A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.

Dora Strang represents maternal influence and religious devotion, secretly allowing Alan access to television against Frank's wishes.

Jill Mason serves as a catalyst for Alan's eventual breakdown:

Highlight: The failed sexual encounter between Alan and Jill becomes a pivotal moment leading to his violent act against the horses.

The major themes explored include:

  • The role of passion in modern life
  • Religious worship and its various manifestations
  • Sexual repression and its psychological consequences
EQUUS CONTEXT • 1940s Britain to increasing economic pooperity oming the working class boorgex of wealth & love of consumer products contrib

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Societal Critique and Psychological Analysis

The final section examines the broader societal critique embedded in the play and its psychological implications.

Highlight: The play presents modern society as increasingly commercialized and medicated, sacrificing individuality for conformity.

The relationship between mental illness and social pressure is explored:

Definition: Repression - The psychological mechanism of forcing unwanted thoughts into the unconscious mind.

Shaffer's view on mental illness is particularly noteworthy:

Quote: "Shaffer was influenced that mental illness were not biological but based on societal pressures."

The play concludes by examining how psychiatric treatment, through hypnosis and truth-telling, helps Alan confront his repressed emotions and experiences.

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Subjects

Drama

Assessment components

Component 1: drama and theatre

 

Drama

•

60

•

5 Apr 2023

•

3 pages

Exploring Equus: Alan Strang and Consumerism

user profile picture

charlotte

@charlotte_ilum

Peter Shaffer's Equus play analysis explores psychological trauma, religion, and societal pressures in 1940s Britain. The play delves into the complex relationship between passion, worship, and mental health through the story of Alan Strang and his psychiatrist Martin Dysart.

Key... Show more

EQUUS CONTEXT • 1940s Britain to increasing economic pooperity oming the working class boorgex of wealth & love of consumer products contrib

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Character Dynamics and Relationships

The second page explores the complex family dynamics and relationships that shape Alan's psychological state.

Frank Strang, Alan's father, embodies the conflict between atheism and religious belief in the household.

Definition: Atheist - A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.

Dora Strang represents maternal influence and religious devotion, secretly allowing Alan access to television against Frank's wishes.

Jill Mason serves as a catalyst for Alan's eventual breakdown:

Highlight: The failed sexual encounter between Alan and Jill becomes a pivotal moment leading to his violent act against the horses.

The major themes explored include:

  • The role of passion in modern life
  • Religious worship and its various manifestations
  • Sexual repression and its psychological consequences
EQUUS CONTEXT • 1940s Britain to increasing economic pooperity oming the working class boorgex of wealth & love of consumer products contrib

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Societal Critique and Psychological Analysis

The final section examines the broader societal critique embedded in the play and its psychological implications.

Highlight: The play presents modern society as increasingly commercialized and medicated, sacrificing individuality for conformity.

The relationship between mental illness and social pressure is explored:

Definition: Repression - The psychological mechanism of forcing unwanted thoughts into the unconscious mind.

Shaffer's view on mental illness is particularly noteworthy:

Quote: "Shaffer was influenced that mental illness were not biological but based on societal pressures."

The play concludes by examining how psychiatric treatment, through hypnosis and truth-telling, helps Alan confront his repressed emotions and experiences.

EQUUS CONTEXT • 1940s Britain to increasing economic pooperity oming the working class boorgex of wealth & love of consumer products contrib

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Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

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.

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

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