What is the story of Phedre?
A morbid love triangle involving King Theseus of Athens, his wife, Phaedra (which in French is Phèdre), and his son by a former marriage, Hippolytus, is revealed by the Queen to her nurse while the family is staying at Troezen, in the Peloponnesus, during Theseus’ absence at war.
What is the theme of Phaedra?
The major themes of the play include lust (Phaedra’s lust for Hippolytus is the engine that drives the tragedy, and the Chorus expounds on examples of lust throughout history); women (Phaedra may be considered an heir to the tradition of scheming, wicked women in Greek mythology, such as Medea, although she is …
What happened between Phaedra and Hippolytus?
In Euripides’ tragedy Hippolytus, he was son of Theseus, king of Athens, and the Amazon Hippolyte. Theseus’ queen, Phaedra, fell in love with Hippolytus. When Phaedra’s passion was revealed to him, he reacted with such revulsion that she killed herself, leaving a note accusing Hippolytus of having tried to rape her.
What happens in Phaedra?
Phaedra is a Roman tragedy written by philosopher and dramatist Lucius Annaeus Seneca before 54 A.D. Its 1280 lines of verse tell the story of Phaedra, wife of King Theseus of Athens and her consuming lust for her stepson, Hippolytus. Seneca’s play continues to be performed today.
What is the meaning of the name Phaedra?
bright
Phaedra’s name derives from the Greek word φαιδρός (phaidros), which meant “bright”.
What institution do we see founded by the deaths of Phaedra and Hippolytus?
The details about the establishment of the shrine of Aphrodite in Athens must have derived from the lost Hippolytus, since, as I already noted, Athens was the dramatic setting for Phaedra’s love in that other tragedy.
What are the role of nurse in Phaedra?
The Nurse is an important character in Seneca’s Phaedra. Some cities have called her an admirable foil to Phaedra. The Nurse stands by her, helps Phaedra in her difficulty and gives wise advice and makes her aware of the consequences of her love for her stepson, Hippolytus.
Why is Phaedra a tragedy?
Phaedra, is a play by philosopher and dramatist Lucius Annaeus Seneca, which tells the story of Phaedra, wife of King Theseus of Athens, and her consuming lust for her stepson, Hippolytus. No doubt, the root cause of Phaedra’s tragedy is that she is a victim of unrequited love.
What is Hippolytus biggest religious mistake?
Ignoring a servant’s suggestion to show equal respect for Aphrodite (his first mistake in the play), Hippolytus angers the goddess of sexual love to the point that she vows revenge, setting in motion the tragic sequence of events that leads to the deaths of Phaidra and her stepson.
Why did Phaedra wife of Theseus commit suicide?
In another version, after Phaedra told Theseus that Hippolytus had raped her, Theseus killed his son, and Phaedra then committed suicide out of guilt, for she had not intended Hippolytus to die. Artemis later told Theseus the truth.
What is the secret that Hippolytus refuses to tell?
Hippolytus enters and protests his innocence but cannot tell the truth because of the binding oath that he swore. Taking his wife’s letter as proof, Hippolytus proudly defends his innocence, saying that he has never looked at any women with sexual desire. Theseus does not believe his son and still exiles him.