Phaedra

Phaedra Jean Racine’s play, Phaedra, arouses “pity and terror”, in accordance with Aristotle’s requirements of tragedy. In summary, Phaedra, who is married to Theseus, is overcome with a forbidden love for her stepson Hippolytus. Upon hearing and believing the rumor of her husband’s death, she is convinced by her nurse, Oenone, to finally admit to what is bothering her enough to want to die. When it becomes known that Theseus is in fact alive, and will be returning home shortly, Phaedra and Oenone scheme a lie to sway Theseus into believing that it was Hippolytus who attempted to seduce Phaedra, not vice-versa. Unfortunately, Theseus believes his second wife over his son and without investigating further labels him a “traitor” (4.1), an “adulterer” (4.2), and even a “monster” (4.2). Theseus asks of Neptune to “Avenge a father’s wrong./Seize on this traitor [Hippolytus], and let your rage be strong” (4.2). Theseus demands for Hippolytus to leave at once because of his supposed incestuous love. In the meantime, Hippolytus was in love with Aricia, who wasn’t allowed to marry because of her brothers’ malicious histories. When Phaedra found out about Hippolytus’ love for Aricia, she couldn’t phaedra, love, theseus, oedipus, hippolytus, reader, terror, realizes, out, character, aricia, pity, just, audience, tragedy, racine, overcome, over, oenone, mother, jean, help, finally, feel, father, even, die, decides, because, 42, wrongdoings, way, upon, traitor, stranger