Social pressures and mental stability

Equus and Othello Essay Plan

Consider and evaluate the different ways in which the writers of your chosen texts 

present the ways in which social pressures can affect an individual’s mental stability.

In Shakespeare's 'Othello' and Shaffer's 'Equus' the protagonists are considerably affected by the social pressures of society, which result in their mental stability /  downfall and the catastrophic means which lead to their crimes of each play writer’s play. The antagonist and Elizabethan/ Jacobean racist society affected Othello's persona and characteristics to fit in, which was a success as the Moor was describes as ''far more fair than black'', but Othello’s persona had negative effects, faults that resulted in actions pressured by society. In Equus, Alan is pressured by society from his upbringing, isolating him from societal advantages, leaving his mental stability characterized by his confusion through puberty. Figuring out the mental stability from the social pressures was typical of a Greek tragedy, the audience's anticipation of the answers and action were crucial as the play writer’s goal, which was also to create a moral lesson / message for society at the time.

Shakespeare's tragedy Othello was published during an Elizabethan/ Jacobean society, where black people were considered 'other', and their personality was stereotyped as aggressive and over-emotional. Othello, the eponymous protagonist, immediately is pressured by his appearance, his difference to the white in a protestant prejudiced society, the change in religion and his persona to be accepted would pressure Othello's mental stability as he would be constantly adapting to new material. Othello had to be Westernized in order to be accepted and progress., The heavy pressure to learn another language and religion in a colonial prejudiced society, "little blessed with the soft phrase of speech", Othello apologizes for not having high knowledge of the language when defending himself against the accusations against him concerning the circumstances of his inter-racial marriage with Desdemona. These factors show Othello socially pressured into being '"far more fair than black", and with these pressures, he relies on the knowledge of  white society to guide him through his actions.

Alan, however, is brought up in a secularized society with an atheist father and a religious enthusiastic mother. During the 1970's the anti-psychiatry movement was being critically analysed by the public, and Shaffer shows society pressures on Alan's mental stability through the theories by R.D.Laing. The audience in the 1970's were consumerists, capitalist and conservative who still lacked knowledge on the mentally ill and were in fear on what they could do to society. They were progressively becoming secularized, which meant that a large proportion of the population were still heavily religious, while generally the younger generations were moving away from religious faith. Shaffer, with the use of the antagonistic character Dysart, has been critically accused of wanting to glorify the mentally ill with the repetition on the positive lexis "fascinated" and he too felt pressured by the adjective "normal". 

Through the traditional structure of the five act tragedy in Othello, the mental stability of the protagonist rises and falls through his idiolect. Othello uses blank verse, iambic pentameter and highly figurative language with polysyllabic lexis when speaking to his superiors, possibly due to pressure of their high register. His confidence, courage and pride is portrayed through his complementary language at the start of the play, "most potent, grave and reverend signors" show his respect and his acknowledgment of his social status in society when he is under pressure in the presence of the Duke. His use of triplets shows his creative tongue, his practiced speech as he poetically used metaphors and similes within his speech. Shakespeare's intention at this stage of the play was to show the Elizabethan audience the equality of speech mastered by a black person, questioning what they feared through his appearance. During Act III, his language deteriorates into monosyllabic base prose, in harmony with Iago's deceptive and antagonistic idiolect. After the climax, the downfall of the protagonist is observed, followed by the expected catastrophe (the deaths) which is typical of a Greek tragedy, Othello's language returns with his figurative, descriptive high register, a possible realization that the social pressures had affected his mental stability, Othello returns to his original individual characteristics; proud, dignified and seemingly in control. Whether we interpret Iago’s influence as evil ‘motiveless malignity’ or merely an embodiment of social pressure; Othello’s mental stability was influenced. This both conforms to the stereotype of black ‘otherness’ as ‘over-emotional’ and challenges his mental stability as equally impacted as Iago’s by the fear of being publically humiliated as a ‘cuckold’.

Similarly, Shaffer introduces Alan as the "usual unusual", an oxymoronic description by Dysart of his clients. The use of television jingles shows Alan's rebellious attitude under pressure of working with another individual. Similar to Othello, the change of Alan’s idiolect mimics the style of the antagonist as the play develops, although this play only has two acts, the change in Alan's register is obvious . The use of neologism by Alan "Ek...Ek" was kept a secret from society, Alan hid his worship and beliefs from society, possibly under pressure to appear ‘normal’, the only individual that noticed Alan's strange attraction to horses was Jill. 

Dysart is also under pressure through society to conform as a working man, his role is vital  to the healing of those who do not conform to societies expectations. The high, intellectual register idiolect that Dysart wears seems nothing but a mask, as described in his dream; "My face is going green behind the mask", this metaphor suggests his mental stability to be the "God of health", his weakness in his conformity from the pressure to perform. Dysart, through metaphorical devices, describes society's pressures of repetition, he openly admits during his monologue that he is "lost", this could connote a variety of meanings. The connotations do not follow the literal definition, Dysart may be lost because of his job, he may be ‘lost’ as an individual, the change in his daily routine. It is clear Alan had affected his mental stability as well as the pressures in society. Shaffer, through Dysart, purposely promotes his views on the Anti-psychiatry movement in Dysart's opening monologue to the audience as a way to attack the "average" man with his lack of "worship". He does this by creating parallel  through the characters Dora and Frank, Alan's mother and father through "extreme" personas. 

Just to let you know, I have not finished the essays on this blog, I may/ may not... I have less than a week until my exam, I am just wanting to get my head wrapped around the question types. Hope these help!