Critical Essay | Critical Essay by Russell Vandenbroucke

Critical Essay by Russell Vandenbroucke

SOURCE: "Equus: Modern Myth in the Making," in Drama and Theatre, Vol. 12, No. 2, Spring, 1975, pp. 129-33.

In the following essay, Vandenbroucke declares that Equus is a modern myth that employs "elements of ritual, religion, and ceremony" to "fathom and capture basic truths of man and nature. "

Camus tells us that myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them. Peter Shaffer's most recent play, Equus, is a myth-like story with the integrity and rich overtones of the finest of artistic works. It is a modern myth, delicately probing a psyche formed by a mingling of modern forces and influences, yet reaching beyond to the concerns and problems of men of all ages. Equus is an arresting piece, a vast playground for the imagination.

The story is that of seventeen year old Alan Strang who has blinded six horses in a stable where he works...
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