Abstract
AbstractThe names of the two protagonists in Peter Shaffer's drama Equus allude to “desert saints” in different senses, suggesting the celibacy, loneliness, and idealism of those characters, as well astheir conflict and kinship on matters of rebellion and religious belief. Other names in the play, including that of the hospital setting, refer to a variety of cultural antecedents. Although the effects 'of these names are much subtler than those of such names in fiction, the end result for Shaffer is a verbal symbolism that amplifies and undergirds his potent thesis.
Highlights
The names of the two protagonists in Peter Shaffer's drama Equus allude to IIdesert saints" in different senses, suggesting the celibacy, loneliness, and idealism of those characters, as well as their conflict and kinship on matters of rebellion and religious belief
British Playwright Peter Shaffer's stunning drama Equus drew rave notices at its New York opening in 1974 for its superb theatricality - its skillful interweaving of a troubled boy's actions and emotions both past and present; its daring evocation of horses by actors garbed in chestnut velvet, elevated on "hooves,· and masked in openwork "horseheads· of metal and leather; its -startling nude scene; and above all . its devastating critique of modern psychiatry, on the one hand as quite capable of destroying passion and faith, but on the other as powerless to replace them in the hearts and minds of patients
The names the playwright chose for his major characters and even for the hospital where the present action occurs, all subtly allude to a wide variety of cultural antecedents: two stories out of the Old Testament and another by Sir Walter Scott, medieval European mona-sticism, a striking nude by Diego Velasquez, a nursery rhyme, and the religious cultists and outlaw horsemen of the American West
Summary
The names of the two protagonists in Peter Shaffer's drama Equus allude to IIdesert saints" in different senses, suggesting the celibacy, loneliness, and idealism of those characters, as well as their conflict and kinship on matters of rebellion and religious belief. The parallels and contrasts between these two "desert saints" named Martin Dysart and Alan Strang will illuminate the central conflict between them and at the same time reinforce their growing kinship.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
