essay 1

Question 1

evidence topic 3

Answer 1

p. 52 - lines 448-451

Question 2

evidence topic 5

Answer 2

• long quote p.52 - lines 463-470
• morwood’s notes, p. 184
• quote Phaedra’s long speech on p.51 - lines 402-405, about the way she sees things

Question 3

evidence topic 7

Answer 3

2 passages to quote and to analyse (put together):
- bottom 52 (last line and first 53))
- bottom 53 (510-513)

Question 4

evidence topic 8

Answer 4

page 53 (490-491, 496-497, 500-501)

Question 5

explain topic 3.

Answer 5

• red herring: something that distracts attention from the real issue
• the nurse talks about Aphrodite’s importance in the world and its creation, but diverts from Phaedra’s moral issue
• Pheadra’s issue: she is possessed by Aphrodite and has an important sexual desire toward her stepson, which is morally wrong because they are almost related, and because it’s her husband’s child.
• by praising Aphrodite, the nurse distracts Phaedra from the issue she faces.

Question 6

explain topic 5 (nurse).

Answer 6

• the nurse uses an argument that is meant to resonate and to agree with Phaedra and her ideas.
• she says that moral imperfection is only a problem if seen by others - which agrees with Phaedra’s moral flaw
• the argument is tailored and meant for Phaedra to understand and agree
• she indulges in Phaedra’s weakness, which is her strong desire to be seen and perceived as virtuous to make her listen to her.
• the nurse also explains to Phaedra how it is normal for her love to have imperfections and to be flawed in some ways

Question 7

explain topic 5 (Phaedra).

Answer 7

• Phaedra’s chief moral flaw is that she cares more about her reputation and good name than of morality (more about looking moral)
• the nurse agrees with what Phaedra says that moral imperfection is only a problem when seen by others, so that she listens to her
• in the end, they both follow immoral reasoning

Question 8

explain the gains of the nurse in topic 5.

Answer 8

• she gains power/control over Phaedra’s life
• gains trust and loyalty with Phaedra

Question 9

explain topic 7.

Answer 9

• inverts the meaning of the word “cure” with a countersense.
• the nurse’s cure is a love spell/charm to give to Hippolytus to make him fall in love with Phaedra
• would be ideal for Phaedra, because if they have the same desires toward each other, they will both want to keep it a secret. The desires would be fulfilled and the secret kept.
• a cure is meant to remove and make a sickness better, but the cure suggested by the nurse would not do that, it would simply faciliate and perpetuate her sickness and set it free.
• it would facilitate it instead of ending it.
• she uses the word “cure” because of its positive connotation: makes it convincing to Phaedra since she wants the sickness to stop.

Question 10

explain topic 8.

Answer 10

• the nurse believed the end justifies the means
• she thinks whatever one has to do to attain a goal, one must do in order to achieve it, no matter how immoral.
• believes if the goal is important enough, one should do whatever it takes, no matter how immoral.
• if the only way to save her life is to commit the immoral act, she should do it to save her life.
• no one should judge her if the means she takes are immoral if it is to save her life.