Equus Dramaturgy

I. The play and playwright II. References in the script

a. by scene/page number b. by character

III. IV. Horses V. Character analysis materials

a. by topic b. by character

VI. Other

References in the script

Rokeby Psychiatric Hospital: The hospital in the script is fictitious, but this is interesting to note: in 1973, Peter Shaffer set Equus in the Rokeby Psychiatric Hospital in Southern England; in 1976 a psychiatric hospital (The Hobart Clinic) was established in Rokeby, Tasmania, on the former grounds of Anglican Benedictine Monks.

I.2 pg. 9

Magistrate Court system: Magistrate Courts are the lowest level of court in England and Wales and see approx. 95% of all cases. A Bench of three Magistrates serves as the equivalent of judge and jury of American standards. Magistrates are volunteers from the community. They may be reimbursed for travel expenses, but are not paid for their time. Most often they have not attended law school; a legal clerk advises them and oversees that all procedures and decisio

at age 70. Schizophrenic

the senses (hallucinations, delusions, etc.) Catatonia: extreme loss of motor functions or extreme hyperactive activity

associated with diseases like schizophrenia pg. 10

Polynesian: Polynesia is a group of approx. 1000 islands in the central and southern Pacific. They lie in a rough triangular shape with Hawaii at the northernmost tip. Polynesian people are said to have originally migrated from southeast Asia. Western Polynesia (Tonga, Niue, Samoa) is much more developed than Eastern Polynesia, with high populations, central governments, and industrialized economic/monetary systems. Eastern Polynesia (Tahiti, Hawaii, etc.)

-based villages and economies and values with emphases on art, dance, body jewelry, etc.

Spanish F ly: A Spanish fly is a small green beetle whose body composition is up to 5% cantharidan, a substance considered an aphrodisiac. Spanish fly is often ground into a powder and added to farm animal feed to encourage them to mate. People often use Spanish fly for insatiable arousal and to intensify sex, but it is also a dangerous poison that irritates the urethra and inflames sex organs, sometimes causing permanent damage to the kidneys and genital area. If used in high doses, it may result in death.

Winchester: Winchester is a cathedral city, the county town of Hampshire in Southeast England. Its population is approx. 40,000. Attractions include the Winchester Cathedral, Wolvesey Castle, Winchester Castle, Winchester College, and the Hospital of St. Cross. See map for geographical location.

I.3 pg. 12

British RailLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway, London and Northeastern Railway, and Southern Railway) combined to form the British Rail. The map below shows to

bland, and probably not very hot.

Doublemint: Doublemint gum was established in 1914 in the United States as

part of the Wrigley company. Beginning in 1956, Doublemint began using twins in iBarnstable. They are pictured below. The fact that they dress in cowgirl boots and

advert (or it just may be a clever coincidence incorporated by Shaffer).

Martini: Martini is the common abbreviated name for Martini & Rossi, an

alcoholic beverage company that produces primarily vermouth, but also sparkling wines. The advert that Alan has seen features the vermouth and a sunny day aboard a motor boat.

Typhoo: Typhoo, having launched in 1903, is one of the most popular tea companies in the UK. The name Typhoo is derived from the Chinese word for

alluding a sort of orgasmic pleasure attained from drinking it. I.4 pg. 14

T exaco: Texaco is an American oil company launched in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas, then known as the Texas Fuel Company. It spread to all 50 states and, in 1947 spread to England under the name Regent. The name changed to Texaco in England in 1967.

I.5 pg. 14

Homeric Greeks These are the Greeks that are written about by the famous epic poet Homer. They largely lived as individual city states and worshiped a patron deity as well as the rest of the typical Greek pantheon. Geographically, these people lived on the Peloponnesian peninsula and occupied what we know as Mycenae and the island of Crete. Historians refer to these Greeks as the Mycenaeans and Minoans. An excellent link to a short description of Homeric Greece is:

http://library.thinkquest.org/19300/data/homersgreece.htm And a handy map:

So Called Mask of Agamemnon The mask is actually too old to historically belong to Agamemnon, since it dates from 1550 BC and the Trojan War has been

Agamemnon because it was found by Heinrich Schliemann, an amateur archeologist who so vehemently believed the story of the Trojan War that he

existence. Random fact: The historical Troy was actually sacked 7 times because there are 7 different layers to the city that have been excavated.

Human Sacrifice Human sacrifice in ancient Greece is largely discussed as a rite for extremely important military expeditions. Probably the most famous example of human sacrifice lies in the Trojan War, where Agamemnon sacrifices his daughter Iphigenia to Artemis in order for the Greek fleet to make the journey to Troy. In the summer 1979, there was a sacrificial altar found in a temple in Minoan Greece that had an 18 year old boy who may have been sacrificed on it (more info attached or see link below). http://projectsx.dartmouth.edu/classics/history/bronze_age/lessons/les/15.html#8

Plain of Argos red soil Argos is one of the oldest Greek city states, and has Hera,

queen of the gods, as it patron. Interestingly enough, recent studies by geologists show that the Greeks actually chose their temple sites based on the soil (this is a 2008 discovery, so it is nigh impossible Shaffer knew this). All temples to Hera would have red soil because they chose sites that had high concentrations of clay

-day were predated by open air temples,

probably like the one Dysart dreams about.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/10/07/greek-temple-soil.html A picture is below with the soil. Argos is the second row far left. Also see the map under the Homeric Greece entry to get an idea of local geography.

Pop-eyed Masks these are some of the other masks found at Mycenae with the fable Mask of Agamemnon.

pg. 15

Reading hieroglyphics: Hieroglyphics are the Ancient Egyptian alphabet. Instead of using letters through the combination of which a sound is symbolized, hieroglyphics are symbols of the combination of sounds phonetically. For example, the

in hieroglyphics. The symbols used are more like pictures of objects. I.6 pg. 18

Swiz: British slang for a swindle or fraud :

old-type Socialist English schoolteacher

pg. 19

Hammer of the Scots/King Edward the First Edward I 1272-1307 Aiming at a united Britain, he defeated the Welsh chieftains and created his eldest son Prince of Wales. He was known as the 'Hammer of the Scots' for his victories in Scotland and brought the famous coronation stone from Scone to Westminster.

Henry the First/never smiled again Henry I 1100-1135 He was educated for the church, but became king in 1100 upon the unexpected death of his brother, William Rufus, in a hunting accident. He was called the 'Lion of Justice' as he gave England good laws even if the punishments were ferocious. His two sons (among them Prince William, Henry's only legitimate son) were drowned in the White Ship his court returned from Normandy. Henry is said to have never smiled again. His daughter Matilda was made his successor, but found unfit to rule.

King John/put out the eyes/prevented/gaoler was merciful King John is universally held to be the worst king in all of English history.

his cruelty, jealousness, and viciousness, and for raising punitive taxes to such extreme levels that the clergy and the nobility forced him to sign the Magna Carta. The reference to putting out eyes is toward his very young nephew Arthur. Arthur

hn claimed the throne and drove him into France. Arthur was later captured after trying to lead an army against John, and John sentenced him to having his eyes burnt out with hot irons for defying him. The gaoler, a man by the name of Hubert, prevented this by

was still killed later. The only mention of putting out of eyes to be found is in in chapter 14.

pg. 20

Sabbath evening I.7 pg. 21

Prince the horse

Christian Cavalry/horse and rider one person/a god Horse picture: Here are some possibilities for visual imagery.

pg. 22

Book of Job passage: This is the entire passage. The lines quoted by Dora and Alan are italicized.

King James Version: Job Chapter 39 1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. 4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. 7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. 9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? 13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? 14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, 15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. 16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear; 17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? 27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. 30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

W esterns: The Westerns Alan would have watched are likely Euro-Westerns, not American Westerns. A complete list of Euro-Westerns with short synopses is available at the following URL: http://www.lfvw.com/eurowestern.htm

pg. 23

Brighton: Brighton is a town in East Sussex (south coast of England). It is part of the city, Brighton and Hove, formerly several small villages. The major equestrian attraction in Brighton is the Brighton Racecourse which, when using its full track, actually extends into the streets and, therefore, streets must be closed and traffic detoured. See the map of England for geographic location.

Bowler hat: The bowler hat was invented in London in 1849. It was designed for riders so that the tight-fitting low-crowned hat would protect their heads from low branches while on horseback. Photo is below.

Jodhpurs: Jodhpurs are traditional riding trousers named after the city in India where they were first worn. Modern jodhpurs are tight and flexible, but jodhpurs

above the knee. They have leather patches inside the leg and sometimes on the seat to

are featured below.

pg. 24

T ea traditions: o The tea kettle should always face the hostess/pourer on the table or tray.

This is to ensure that if the pourer spills the tea, it will splash toward her and not the guest.

o You must use a short/stout tea kettle--others do not allow enough room for the leaves to expand.

o A teacup is 3 1/4" to 3 3/4" in diameter and 2" to 2 1/2" in height and the saucer is 5 1/4" to 5 5/8". They should be filled 3/4 of the way, not more, not less.

o To single the hostess to stop pouring, one should place his/her spoon across the saucer.

o If the drinker is at a table, he/she should NOT pick up the saucer, but only the tea cup, and should always replace the cup on the saucer in between sips. If the drinker is not at a table, he/she should hold the saucer in his/her lap with the left hand and hold the cup with the right. The cup should never remain in the air in between sips.

o You should never wear gloves with drinking tea unless they are long gloves accompanying a ball gown.

pg. 25

Insuperable: incapable of being surmounted, overcome, passed over, or solved I.9 pg. 29

Quid: Quid is slang for the pound. It is both singular and plural and is derived

quid equaled approx. $2.50. The 20 quid that Dysart is paid would have been about $50/hour. That would be approx. $220/hour today.

I.10 pg. 30

Riding crop: A riding crop is a short whip without a lash. The shaft is usually fiberglass or cane and covered in leather. There is a handle on one end. The crop is used to back up verbal and physical commands made with the legs and seat. Below are two pictures, one showing the size compared to a dollar bill, the other showing the size compared to a standard whip. The crop is designed to require no more than a flick of the wrist.

Galloping: The gallop is the fastest pace in which a typical horse is trained. The

feet move one at a time. The rider should lift his/her seat slightly off the saddle and put his/her weight on the heels. More information is available on the pace attachment and pictures are below.

T rojan: Trojan the Horse This may be a clever allusion by our playwright to

the Trojan Horse of The Aeneid by Vergil. This is where we get the famous story of the Trojan horse that Odysseus and the Greeks used to breach the Trojan fortress by pretending to leave the shores of Troy and leave a statue of a horse as a gift to city. This horse was actually filled with Greek soldiers. Since the Trojans believed the Greeks had left and they had won, they brought the gift within the city walls and threw a city-wide victory party. The Greeks inside the horse waited until the Trojans went to bed (more likely passed out from drinking) and then snuck out of the horse and opened the city gates. Meanwhile, the Greek fleet returned and reunited with their hidden forces to sack the city of Troy: killing,

to Alan by letting the horse into his life he has spawned the Equus that will lead to his disturbed and painful future.

Mounting: It is recommended to first learn to mount from the left, but a good

rider can mount from either side. A complete guide to mounting a horse (with pictures) is attached.

Reins/Guiding the horse: Jesse James: Jesse James was a 19th century outlaw who came to be known as the

symbol of the Wild West. He was a Confederate guerilla during the Civil War who allegedly murdered many Union soldiers. He also murdered bank employees and bystanders as he committed numerous robberies. His legacy in pop culture and as is depicted in Western films is that of a Robin Hood character, though his robberies were to benefit only his gang.

Wheeling a horse: rearing the horse I.11 pg. 35

Our Lord on to Calvary: There have been many renditions of this scene by artists throughout history. The following examples are the most graphic and,

cross is mounted on His back, rather than He mounted on the cross.

I.13 pg. 40

Revelations passage: This is the Bible passage from Revelations of St. John the Divine (from the King James version). The parts that Alan quotes are in

edition of the Bible. The Rider on the White Horse

11 And I saw heaven opened, Ezek. 1.1 and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, Dan. 10.6 and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: Ps. 2.9 and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Is. 63.3 · Joel 3.13 · Rev. 14.20 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. Ezek. 39.17-20 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. Rev. 13.1-18 These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

I.14

pg. 42 Begats: A biblical form for genealogy. John Doe begat Jane Doe means Jane

Doe is the daughter of John Doe. The former name bears the latter. I.15 pg. 45 Philco hotplate: Philco is the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company and

Philco Corporation. Electronics company that began in 1892. As near as I can tell, they never made hot plates, but they started out as a batteries company that later bridged in the 1920s into radios, and became the world leader in radio technology. They created an assortment of other appliances, mostly TVs, speakers, refrigerators, and possibly washing machines.

Remington is the same shaving company we know today, which certainly carries ladies shavers. A division of Spectrum Brands, they now make everything from shavers to bug spray. They too started as a battery company (Rayovac).

Eveready batteries: An Indian based battery company. They started in 1905 and have continued to create dry cell batteries and flashlights ever since.

Hoover: The well known vacuum company began in 1907 when asthmatic janitor Murray Spangler invented the suction sweeper to keep dust out of his lungs while he worked. Hoover has stuck to vacuums since its inception, and has made many innovations in the field.

Westinghouse: Westinghouse has been a world leader in consumer electronics,

making a huge variety of interesting gadgets and inventions. They started back before the civil war and their Equus contemporary credits include developing the first instant-on television in 1968, the video cameras used by Neil Armstrong and his companions on the lunar landing in 1969, and the first

Pifco automatic toothbrushes: Pifco was recently acquired by the American company Salton, and then later dissolved. Pifco, headquartered in the United Kingdom, produced and marketed a broad range of branded personal care appliances, electrical hardware, cookware and battery operated products under the brand names of Pifco(R), Salton(R), Carmen(R), Russell Hobbs(R), Tower(R), Hi-Tech(R), Mountain Breeze(R) and Haden(R). They probably did make automatic toothbrushes.

Beautiflor: polishers. Not much on them, they have one from the 1950s on ebay, though.

Windolene: Windolene is a glass cleaner company that looks eerily similar to Windex. In fact, it is the same company, only Windolene is British. Windolene is often used in cleaning the front of televisions.

Philco transistor radio: The Philco was actually sold to Ford in 1961 and

became Philco-Ford, but Ford sold Philco to GTE-Sylvania in 1974. Ironically, when Philco began to market radio tubes under the Philco brand name, the tubes were made for Philco by Sylvania. Both Sylvania and Philco eventually became part of Philips Consumer Electronics Corporation, known today for their Philips Magnavox line of consumer electronics products.

Thus, the first customer who wants a Philco hot-plate is misinformed (and/or stupid), and the customer who wants a transistor radio is buying a high end, possibly antique, piece of technology.

pg. 46

Clipping horses: Clipping machine/blades:

I.16 pg. 47

Strapping a horse: Frog:

pg. 48 Hoof pick:

Dandy:

Body brush:

Curry-comb:

Grooming:

pg. 50 Nosey Parker was first recorded around 1907.

the 1880 -

or park-keepers, were known as peeping Toms at the Great Exhibition at Hyde Park.

I.17 pg. 51

Cigarettes: packaging has changed very little since 1973 and there is little to no difference between American and British design.

Neurotic: A neurotic suffers from neurosis, not neuroticism. A neurotic typically does not suffer from delusions or hallucinations, but does suffer from extreme anxiety, hysteria, phobias, or personality disorders. Neurosis is not psychosis; psychosis is when the sufferer loses touch with reality. In psychoanalysis, Neurosis is rooted in ego defense mechanisms; defense mechanisms are actions we take or habits we form to maintain ourselves; if any of these actions become harmful, the term neurosis is applied. Symptoms of neurosis that Alan exhibits are: irritability, mental confusion, low self-esteem, impulsive and compulsive acts, unpleasant or disturbing thoughts, obsession/repetition of thoughts, habitual fantasizing, negativity/cynicism, interpersonal dependency, schizoid isolation, and socially inappropriate behaviors. psychology since it is so broad.

I.18 pg. 52

Northern Hygienic: short for Northern Hygiene Laboratories, Ltd., Hygiene and Food Testing Services

pg. 53

Highland Games: The Highland Games are a national competition in Scotland (and all over the world at this point), where the Scots come together to compete in feats of athletics and celebrate their heritage through a festival with food, music and dance. According to some sources, the games predate written history. The events largely include enormous feats of strength including the caber toss, the stone put, the Scottish hammer throw, the weight throw, and the sheaf toss (noticing a trend?). Cool picture of Scottish strength: the caber toss!

Iliad: Iliad The Iliad is the first in a two part epic (the second being the Odyssey) written by the famous epic poet Homer. It tells the story of the Trojan War: the

Greece was not unified as a nation). Many great heroes and kings are described and detailed in its text such as Achilles, Agamemnon, Hector, Priam, Paris, and the infamous Helen of Troy (the woman the war was supposedly fought over).

Glasgow:

Doric temple: Doric Temple The best example of a Doric temple is the Parthenon: the temple to Athena at the Acropolis in Athens. Doric temples are characterized by their plain capitals (top of columns), wide column shafts, and no bases to the columns. See pictures below for examples:

For more cool info, check out this site: http://www.sandrashaw.com/AH1L18.htm

Chianti: an Italian red wine, traditionally in a short, squat bottle wrapped in straw (called a flask or fiasco), medium-bodied, medium-high acidity, with floral, cherry, and nutty flavors/aromas

China condiment donkeys: See picture.

Local gods: Local gods Greeks and Romans believed that there were many different gods. Beyond the deities we know, there were also river gods, muses, nymphs, satyrs, and other lesser divine creatures that inhabited each thing in the natural world. A Greek polis would select one god to be their patron, and would also worship gods of their own local area (River gods, etc). Geniuses are among the possibilities of local gods, since they inhabit every sentient thing.

Geniuses: from the OED: The tutelary god or attendant spirit allotted to every person at his birth, to govern his fortunes and determine his character, and finally to conduct him out of the world; also, the tutelary and controlling spirit similarly connected with a place, an institution, etc.

These are the little gods that inspire you to greatness by whispering in your ear. They are often seen in statues of important Roman figures like Augustus Caesar.

Genius

1.19 pg. 55

Hypnotism: I.20 pg. 60

Chestnut horse: Chestnut horses are copper-red with a mane and tail of the same or lighter color. Chestnut means the absolute absence of black hairs. It is the most common color for a horse and appears in almost every breed. See pictures.

Sandals

replace a lost shoe on a horse. Here is a picture.

Bit and bridle: I.21 pg. 62

Nettles: Nettle can refer to up to 45 species of flowering plants, some of which are annual and some are shrubs. The Stinging Nettle is poisonous and common in Europe, but almost all varieties of nettle have stinging hairs. Only one variety of nettle has been known to kill horses and other animals. It only exists in New Zealand. The nettle Alan and Nugget encounter is most likely harmless.

pg. 63

F lank: The flank is the area behind the ribcage and in front of the hind legs of the horse. This is the area to watch for hydration level. If the area is caved in, the horse is dehydrated. The horse should

of dehydration; if the horse sweats there for no apparent reason, it is a sign of

hairs, rather than down and back. Last Supper:

pg. 64:

Walk: Trot: Canter: Turning a horse: