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Shaffer starts the play by offering the readers and audiences alike, a character to dislike - even hate. As the play progresses, the psychologist takes the audience into the minds of the troubled young teen who blinded six horses. Very early on the psychologist makes a note of Alan's reciprocity during his sessions; the unabashed effort being covert or being blatantly verbally abusive to his doctor only showed the extent of devolution of his mind. Alan's mind warps God, horses, religion and its iconography into a garbled mush that makes his actions and reactions extreme.

Shaffer doesn't hold back on the observations Alan makes during the course of the play. The graphic nature of Alan's actions and the route his passions (and obsession) take. When reasons being to unfold, it becomes difficult to pin point an exact event that shaped Alan the way he is. Shaffer twists every possible influencing factor that aids in mental development of a child thus making Alan's final act almost an inevitable response. Shaffer delivers the final monologue with subdued aggression and gentle hopelessness. The closing statement is what makes the play standout from its contemporaries.

Equus is a study of disappointments, archetypes, iconography, contradictions, relationships, parenting, religion, passion, love, sex and then some. One of those few plays that one can enjoy reading as much as when it is on stage.