EQUUS CHARACTER ANALYSIS
ALAN DYSART DORA FRANK HESTHER
Feelings at the start Confused, defensive, Feels competent in his Dora is deeply concerned Frank is stern, distant, Determined and
emotionally withdrawn. role as a psychiatrist but for her son but defensive and repressed. He compassionate,
Experiencing deep harbors a growing sense about her role in his harbors resentment advocating for Alan’s
internal conflict between of dissatisfaction with his upbringing. She is proud toward Dora’s religious treatment instead of
worship & shame work and life. He envies of her religious influence influence on Alan and punishment. She respects
the passion and intensity on Alan and refuses to feels powerless to Dysart but gently
he observes in others, take responsibility for his control his son’s challenges him to engage
including Alan. issues. behavior. more deeply with his
work.
Feelings at the end Vulnerable & exposed Deeply conflicted and Feels devastated and Frank is guilt-ridden Pragmatic and resolved,
after Dysart’s therapy guilt-ridden. He questions helpless, her faith shaken and remorseful, believing she has done the
uncovers his secrets. A the morality of his by the revelations about particularly after right thing in saving Alan
mixture of relief & fear, profession and laments Alan’s worship of Equus. confessing his own from the justice system.
as the removal of his the cost of “curing” Alan, She remains emotionally failures and witnessing However, she remains
worship leaves him knowing it will strip him fragile, clinging to her Alan’s breakdown. He unaware of the depth of
uncertain about his of his individuality and belief in God for comfort. appears more Dysart’s moral crisis.
identity & purpose. passion. vulnerable but remains
emotionally reserved.
Descriptive vocabulary Passionate, conflicted, Intellectual, disillusioned, Devout, protective, self- Repressed, Compassionate,
intense, devout, empathetic, conflicted, righteous, emotional, authoritarian, secretive, pragmatic, authoritative,
tormented. weary. fragile. stern, guilt-ridden. supportive, rational.
ALAN DYSART DORA FRANK HESTHER
Feelings at the start Confused, defensive, Feels competent in his Dora is deeply concerned Frank is stern, distant, Determined and
emotionally withdrawn. role as a psychiatrist but for her son but defensive and repressed. He compassionate,
Experiencing deep harbors a growing sense about her role in his harbors resentment advocating for Alan’s
internal conflict between of dissatisfaction with his upbringing. She is proud toward Dora’s religious treatment instead of
worship & shame work and life. He envies of her religious influence influence on Alan and punishment. She respects
the passion and intensity on Alan and refuses to feels powerless to Dysart but gently
he observes in others, take responsibility for his control his son’s challenges him to engage
including Alan. issues. behavior. more deeply with his
work.
Feelings at the end Vulnerable & exposed Deeply conflicted and Feels devastated and Frank is guilt-ridden Pragmatic and resolved,
after Dysart’s therapy guilt-ridden. He questions helpless, her faith shaken and remorseful, believing she has done the
uncovers his secrets. A the morality of his by the revelations about particularly after right thing in saving Alan
mixture of relief & fear, profession and laments Alan’s worship of Equus. confessing his own from the justice system.
as the removal of his the cost of “curing” Alan, She remains emotionally failures and witnessing However, she remains
worship leaves him knowing it will strip him fragile, clinging to her Alan’s breakdown. He unaware of the depth of
uncertain about his of his individuality and belief in God for comfort. appears more Dysart’s moral crisis.
identity & purpose. passion. vulnerable but remains
emotionally reserved.
Descriptive vocabulary Passionate, conflicted, Intellectual, disillusioned, Devout, protective, self- Repressed, Compassionate,
intense, devout, empathetic, conflicted, righteous, emotional, authoritarian, secretive, pragmatic, authoritative,
tormented. weary. fragile. stern, guilt-ridden. supportive, rational.
