Phaedra Flashcards
Hippolytus
Son of Theseus and the Amazonian Antiope. A lover of the hunt and of the woods, he is known to despise women. He prefers the freedoms of the wilderness to the comforts (and constraints) of civilization.
Phaedra
Theseus’ wife and Hippolytus’ stepmother. Daughter of Pasiphae, who fell in love with a bull and gave birth to the Minotaur, she too becomes stricken with a “sinful” desire - a lust for Hippolytus.
Theseus
King of Athens, famed for his heroic exploits, trapped in the Underworld at the play’s beginning, on a quest with his friend Pirithous to capture Persephone and bring her to the mortal world. Known for his harshness, he killed his former wife Antiope, mother of Hippolytus.
Oenone
Phaedra’s wet-nurse, an old woman who at first seems a vessel of wisdom in her attempts to console and advise her mistress, but then reveals a more sinister side when she hatches a plan to falsely accuse Hippolytus of trying to rape his stepmother.
Aricia
Royal princess, last descendant of a family destroyed by Theseus. In spite of Theseus’ express prohibition, she and Hippolytus fall in love.
Theramenes
Tutor and confidant to Hippolytus.
Theme: Lust
Lust is the central force driving the tragedy in Phaedra, primarily through Phaedra’s forbidden desire for her stepson, Hippolytus. Lust manifests in various forms throughout the play, including the Chorus’s reflection on historical examples, such as Diana’s lust for Endymion and Phaedra’s mother’s unnatural union with a bull. The play highlights how uncontrollable lust leads to ruin, as seen in Phaedra’s own destructive desires, Theseus’ obsessive relationships, and the tragic consequences for all involved.
Theme 2: Guilt and Shame
Phaedra’s overwhelming guilt and shame are central to her character. She struggles with the illicit nature of her desire for Hippolytus, and her attempts to conceal it only deepen her internal torment. This sense of guilt permeates the play, leading to tragic decisions and ultimately her downfall. These emotions are reflected in the actions of other characters, including Hippolytus, whose innocence becomes entwined with the false accusations against him.
Motif: The Curse
A recurring motif in Phaedra is the idea of a curse, particularly the curse that afflicts Phaedra’s family. Her mother’s unnatural desires and the tragic fates of her ancestors seem to haunt Phaedra, as if they are doomed to repeat the same destructive patterns. This sense of an inherited curse is a driving force in the play, creating a sense of inevitability and fatalism.
author
Racine
