Diskussion:Equus (Religion)

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Peter Shaffer’s “Equus” contains many religious aspects.

Alan’s behaviour can be seen as a religious one in many ways. Flooded with Bible stories by his mother he seems to be pious. The boy had a picture of the “Lord in chains” hanging in his bedroom which he prayed to. He insisted on buying it with his pocket money and put it at a place where he could always see it. His father, who didn’t appreciate his boy “always mooning over religious pictures” (p.34) put off Jesus’ picture (threw it away) and exchanged it for the picture of a horse looking over a gate. Alan cried for days (though he’s normally not a crier, his mother ads) but then hung the new picture in exact the same position. Alan now starts praying to this horse picture, for example talking about the horse’s genealogy (in a way it’s normally known from the bible) in the middle of the night. “Behold – I give you Equus, my only begotten son” (p.51) is some of his words while he starts beating himself with a wooden coat hanger. He imitates the horse’s bridle when putting a string in his mouth.

This is only the beginning of this page. Sorry I couldn’t write much more today - I’m so tired and busy and I need your help! What is still left to talk about is the scene at the stable (what Alan is doing at night) + the question if religion can be seen as a reason for his crime (or are the reasons much more complex? --> relationship Dora / Frank). Whoever wants to add something – here comes your invitation! Go on, because I’m under a lot of pressure at the moment. Writing some more later,--Hawkeye 22:15, 28. Nov 2006 (CET)

I would like to add something: I think you can say that Alan sacrifies horses, because in his eyes they give him trust, force and support. These are things he didn't get at home that often.

Therefore Alans behaviour is a flee into religion; a flee from his parents, especially from his father who thinks its only the bibles fault Alan became so complicated.

Its not very good, but is a try. If someone knows how to write it better or has new ideas please add something --Miss King 13:15, 4. Dez 2006 (CET)

I'd also like to add something: Concerning Dysart you can say that he is a very non - religous person and so he maybe is unable to understand the important role of religion in the case of Alan. This could be a reason for that in result on the Alan - case he gets into psychological trouble: He doesn't understand Alan at all becourse of he doesn't know much about religion. OK, that sounds very mad - but I think that we can discuss about it.--KMD 19:59, 7. Dez. 2006 (CET)

I'm writing now an essay about the parallels between the Christianity and Alan's "sect". Have you some ideas concerning this point of view that can help me? I think it is very interesting...--Brick 18:38, 10. Dez. 2006 (CET)

Another point of view or: The panic-making side of Alan's God. Another point of Alan's strange religous attitude appears in Scene 34: Now "Equus" as Alan calls his God is not anymore a peaceful God which is a kind of adventure-game for Alan but a new God: He is terrifying Alan. This gets best visable when Dysart is listening to Alan at the beginning of the scene. Alan is scared as Equus is accusing him for his crime. And later we get to know that Alan's panic is not just the idea of a mad young boy but also very realistic: Horses come and try to kill Alan. The amazing thing about this is that Alan defenses himself just at the beginning, when only three horses ruled by Nugget have arrived. But when the other three horses, described as "dreadful creatures out of a nightmare" join the group, he suddenly stopps any kind of defense. It looks as if he'd enjoy the punishment by the horses. But mayby this is a sign for a different kind of religious attitude: The real God Equus is not the domestical horse but the origin horse. This would explain that Alan stopps defending when the three wild horses arrive. As another possibility this scene could show that Alan has a hierarchical type of gods. The domestical horses are the lower class of gods which are more a kind of demigods like the Greek heroes in former times. The real gods are the wild creatures. So from Alan's perspective we could say that the defense against the lower-class-gods is legal and possible. But against the wild horses as the "real" gods - or, another solution, the incarnation of "Equus" - any kind of defense is not just impossible but also unjustifiable. This may open a connection between the religious and the psychical aspect of the drama: Mayby this scene opens a new point of view on Alan: Altough his parents, especially his dad, are kind of strict he needs a strict God too.

--KMD 09:10, 18. Dez. 2006 (CET)

I would like to add something to the discussion of scene 34: I don't agree with KMD. I don't think that this scene shows any new god or something. It describes Alan's pain which is even aggravated by Dysart. Alan apologizes for what he has done and promises not to do it again. Nugget answers to him he always watches him and Alan is going to fail. In his delusion he blinds every horse which nears the scene. In his hysteria he shouts "kill me" which shows that Alan does not know how to go on, how to live a life in pain and to suffer his fault. You can say that it is Alan's wish to die, because he wants to be redeemed from his parents and his insufferable situation. One try to get rid of all circumstances may be the flee into the religion, because it gives Alan the feeling of being someone special, not crazy; he can put all his believes and whishes into god without having the feeling to do something his parents wouldn't tolerate. --Miss King 08:41, 18. Dez. 2006 (CET)

Who has already written this complete text on the article page??Shouldn't anyone discuss it at first?I think there is still something to add, for example a short statement to Franks point of few. He never tolerated Alan's interest and fascination to religion and he also says that the Bilbe is one great causer of Alan's action. this is a very important thing for Alan's development. --Miss King 08:55, 18. Dez. 2006 (CET)

I don't know in how far we could put this to our topic, but still I want to show it to you, because Mrs Strang attitude of sexuality is influenced by religion.
A very important aspect of Alan’s crime is the sexuality, and therefore also her attitude to sexuality. She is very conservative, but still tells him the biological facts. She explained Alan that “sex is not just a biological matter, but spiritual as well”. Adding her opinion that god’s eyes are everywhere, and Alan’s transfer God-Jesus-Equus, the crime gets new aspects.--Brick 22:48, 7. Jan. 2007 (CET)

my god who wrote this stuff? you didn't even get dr. Dysarts name right!