Hippolytus Flashcards
1
Q
Author
A
Euripides - a greek tragedian of classical Athens (c. 480 -406 BC)
2
Q
Characters
A
- Theseus - father of
Hippolytus, husband of Phaedra, killed the Minotaur with help of Phaedra’s sister Ariadne - Phaedra - stepmother of Hippolytus but also madly in love with him due to Aphrodite’s interference, half-brother is the minotaur
- Hippolytus - son to Hippolyta and Theseus, devotee of Artemis
- Nurse of Phaedra
- Artemis and Aphrodite
3
Q
Background
A
- A story of revenge
- Artemis was favoured by Hippolytus compared to Aphrodite
- Set in Troezen
4
Q
Plot
A
- Hippolytus (H) worships Artemis and refuses to worship Aphrodite.
- She becomes vengeful of the fact and makes his step-mother fall madly in love with him.
- Phaedra becomes ill due her immense love and confesses to the nurse of her love.
- The nurse goes to H and tell him about the situation but he refuses to fall in love with Phaedra.
- But Nurse makes him promise not to tell anyone about the situation.
- Phaedra over hears the conversation, fires her nurse and then hangs herself in her room thinking her life is over.
- Before killing herself, she writes a note in which she blames H for her health and accuses him of raping her.
- Theseus finds the note and calls upon H.
- H denies the allegations but cannot reveal the truth due to his promise to the Nurse
- H is exiled and during his voyage across the sea, is attacked by a monster sent by Poseidon upon the request of Theseus, using one of his three wishes.
- When H is picked up from the sea, Artemis appears and reveals everything.
- H forgives his father and dies.
- Artemis vows to kill Aphrodite’s next mortal lover out of revenge
5
Q
Analysis
A
- Phaedra shown as a virteous character plagued by Aphrodite until she falsely accuses H
- Nurse: wants to make everything right but fails
- Hippolytus: does not know moderation
- Deus ex Machina: a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the inspired and unexpected intervention
