Peter Shaffer’s play, Equus, explores the conflict between social responsibility and individual desire using contrasting characterisation and symbolism. By imposing an extreme situation on the central characters - the psychiatrist, Martin Dysart and his patient, Alan Strang - Shaffer explores how each deal with their personal struggles.
Shaffer uses contrasting characterisation between Dysart and Alan, who are stark opposites in their societal roles and personal beliefs. As a psychiatrist, Dysart is professionally obliged to uphold certain values, as he “adjusts” his patients to a socially-responsible standard. In contrast, Alan is a stable-hand; his job and skill level do not dictate such a pressure to contribute to improving society. Nonetheless, it can be debated that taking care of innocent creatures commands an even higher level of social responsibility. As a result, Alan’s animal crimes are perceived
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They’re free” (p. 44). By suggesting he wants to be a cowboy, Alan implies that he knows his self-made religion is not a socially-responsible or acceptable desire. Thus, Alan expressing his desire not to be viewed as a horse-worshipper shows that he is dissatisfied pursuing his desires without considering his social responsibility.
At the play’s climax, Alan is confronted with two choices: follow his immediate desire for intimacy with his girlfriend Jill or stay loyal to Equus, his original desire. Although desiring Jill is not socially-irresponsible, the presence of another desire, Equus, distorts his beliefs. Shaffer juxtaposing both of Alan’s desires forces him to sacrifice his social responsibility to minimise his extremely conflicted emotions. Nonetheless, in the aftermath, Alan is shown to have lasting guilt over surrendering his social responsibility, highlighting the lack of resolution for his
The starting point of this essay is to establish and lay out an animal rights claim. The point here is not to solely list which specific rights animals have, as that goes beyond the scope of this essay, but to discuss why animals do in fact have a claim to rights, and what this means for humans. The need to understand the intrinsic, or inherent value of animals allows us to see the base from which their claim to rights is derived. Inherent value refers to the idea that animals are valuable in themselves, not in what they provide us. Tom Regan, an animal ethicist, sets out the moral grounding from which we can
During the play, most of the characters use the word responsibility at one point or another and each member of the family has a different attitude to their responsibility towards social issues and Eva Smith. The inspector can see that the Birling family dislike the working class and their society as they see themselves as better off and higher than them in society.
Another scene in the play that has a positive impact is when Michael tries to force Alan to play a game that required each person to call someone who he loves the most. Michael thought that Alan is also gay but in denial so he tries to urge Alan to “come out of the closet” by confessing to his true affection on the phone. So when Alan picks up the phone to call someone, everyone at the party thought that Alan is calling another gay man. But it turns out that Alan is calling his wife, his lover and soul mate. Michael is hurt by this acknowledgement because he was wrong about Alan. This scene exhibits not all men who may have conduct like a gay man is gay. Furthermore, it also shows that any man can have gay friends but he still can be characterized as a heterosexual.
Despite being ‘cruel’ in order to meet the requirements of ‘Australians for Animal Rights’, humans have considered the report ‘alternative’ and ‘important’, compounding the agency’s apparent guilt. This attack on humans invites both readers and carnivores by choice to support the tough action done by the Australians for Animal Rights in defence of the animal society. The tone of the article becomes less forceful when explaining the Australians for Animal Rights’s response. Talk of ‘compassionate people’ and ‘breaking the law’ gives way to a more conciliatory tone, reporting an agreement between humans and the Australians for Animal Rights in order to ‘justify’ to ‘damage’, risks and ‘poor creatures’ involved. Jo’s use of language is most likely intended to encouraging the readers to accept their ‘self-serving purposes’ and to perceive of ‘animal rights’ as a
A quick comparison to Vicki Hearne’s “What’s Wrong with Animal Rights?” to Peter Singer’s “Speciesism and Moral Status”, might indicate Hearne’s argument is stronger due to her strategic and effective use of emotional appeals (i.e. pathos). These appeals allow Hearne to connect quickly and easily with her audience. Hearne is also quite clever in terms of stressing her occupation as an animal trainer. However, after a swift comparison of the two articles, it is evident that Singer’s “Speciesism and Moral Status” offers readers a stronger and more valid argument. Both Singer and Hearne are arguing their position on animal rights and the extent of human involvement. Since Hearne’s article is primarily based on her attempt to persuade her
The idea that all humans are born equal has been something that has been almost installed in our minds. However, in the eyes of Peter Singer, we as humans are constantly violating our own moral code in the way we treat animals. Singer refers to this as speciesism and compares our treatment of animals to the same way sexists and racists treat those who they deem inferior. He also argues that the grounds on which they base their prejudice on are equally fragile. He illustrates this by comparing speciesists to racists. He recalls, “The racists violates the principle of equality by giving greater weight to the interests of his own race…similarly the speciesist allows the interests of his own species to override the greater interests of members of another species” (53.) He initiates this argument by explaining how our willingness to declare all humans as equal when the opposite is fundamentally true. Singer writes, “Like it or not, we must face the fact that humans come in different shapes and sizes; they come with differing moral capacities, differing intellect…if the demand for equality was based on the actual equality of all human beings, we would have to stop demanding equality” (51). Singer seeks to establish that our push for equality ends once the being in question is no longer human. Once he establishes this, he can quickly draw parallels between our unequal treatment of animals and humans. He evolves what initially begins as a far-fetched claim to a nuanced and
A lot of people would see insanity and corruption to play the most important role in Hamlet. However, other people may argue that the main theme in Hamlet is Shakespeare’s use of actors and acting and the way it is used as framework on which insanity and corruption are built. Shakespeare demonstrates the theme of actors and acting in his characters, the illusion that the individuals assume and the introduction of the ‘play within a play’. This connection allows certain characters to wield the actions and thoughts of others.
In a far from perfect world, no one is deemed normal. Each circumstance holds the ability to rip one’s insanity apart, bit by bit, until there is nothing left to ruin. Behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet, there is but one question unanswered: Is Hamlet truly mad or is he playing a character in disguise? This uncertain inquiry continues to bewilder the readers as they attempt to understand Shakespeare’s beautiful creation of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark. However, after understanding Hamlet’s character, there leaves only one true answer: he is mad. Thus, Hamlet is too ardent with his own emotions that he drives himself to madness.
The main theme of the play is to not fall prey to emotions and hasty suspicions. They are a bad combination and will ruin your life. If you ever get one of these you should try not to get the other or you are in trouble. So if you are ever having doubts about someone ask them, don’t listen to your friends. They might not know the truth or the whole
because she too is a victim like many others in the play, but is the
Hamlet, a play by William Shakespeare, is as much a mystery as a tale about depression, madness and sanity. Shakespeare reveals how the scourge of corruption and decay rapidly spread; and the emotional consequences that follow. Insanity, madness and depression are as intolerable as corruption and deceit; and just as intertwined. The play makes one ponder if it is possible to be sane in an insane world full of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption? By examining the themes of melancholy, madness and sanity in Hamlet, Shakespeare details his character’s descent from depression to madness. Additionally, Hamlet’s psychological state can be
Humans have always had a complicated relationship with non-human animals. This relationship has always benefitted the needs of humans, with little consideration for animals’ needs. Some animals are tortured for entertainment, some are butchered for food and others are taken from their habitat and family, and forced to be pets for humans. These are all examples of the ways humans have exploited animals for their own satisfaction. Hal Herzog’s essay “Animals Like Us” describes the complicated relationship that humans and animals have, and how difficult it is to determine what is ethical when dealing with animals. Jonathan Safran Foer makes a similar observation in his essay “The Fruits of Family Trees” of the ethical issues in the
Shakespeare’s King Lear fabricated a world of its own, in which distinct virtues and vices were personified by individuals with diverse points of view. With each conflict in the play, the characters’ actions and decisions were parallel to the integrity of their heart and mind, exhibiting the virtue or vice they represented. With this strategy, Shakespeare shares that with trust should come discretion.
Animals have always played an essential role in many aspects of this world. Some people look upon these roles with favoritism, some with disgust. Animals are considered different from humans by some people because of their behavior, mannerisms or actions. Some animals are used as food by humans and other animals, while others are trapped for their furs. Many times people acquire animals for pets, only to neglect or mistreat them. For many years, the ethical treatment of animals has been a very controversial topic for moral discussion, often in reference to an ethical code or rule. In this paper, I will discuss these ethical issues identified with the treatment of animals as well as exploring these issues from a virtual ethicist’s
Most of the characters in the play have a certain role and most of them have a special bond with another person and share one of the three types of love. Some characters share the love of