The Story of Phaedra
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The mythology of ancient Greece has provided a mass of source material for poets, novelists, and playwrights over the centuries, and often the writer will look back to the mythological stories and alter them to fit his or her own contemporary interests, to emphasize a different theme, or to make emendations as he or she may feel a need for change. The story of Phaedra is treated in one way by the playwright Racine in Phaedra from the seventeenth century. The Racine version is based in large part on the Hippolytus of Euripides, though a version by Seneca should also be cited as a source for the Racine play. Both versions have their own take on the original myth. That myth tells of how Phaedra, the wife of King Theseus, fell in love with Hippolytus, her stepson. She makes her passion known to the young man, and he rejects her. She then revenges herself on him by accusing him of dishonoring her, and this leads to the death of both the young man and Phaedra. Racine uses most of the story from the myth, though he gives that story a somewhat different emphasis as he explores the tragedy of Phaedra and her personality and her obsession. Racine tells this story in the same general manner as it was originally expounded, as a myth rather than a story from his own time. His Phaedra was first produced in 1677, and it retained both the mythology and the supernatural element. The supernatural element is seen in the monster raised from the deep to answer the prayers of Theseus,
. . .
s dead and will not return. Hippolytus says Theseus might return, and she disagrees:
No one goes twice among the dead; and since
Theseus has seen those gloomy regions, Prince,
No god will bring him back. . . (II.iv.43-45).
Hippolytus comments that Phaedra's love for his father is strong, and she agrees:
Yes, Prince, I burn for him with starved desire,
Though not as he was seen among the shades,
The fickle worshiper of a thousand maids,
Intent on cuckolding the King of Hell (II.iv.54-57).
Phaedra here expresses her belief in the infidelity of her husband, and ironically it will be her own attempt at infidelity that will lead to tragedy. For his part, Theseus trusts his wife implicitly, as would be necessary to get him to believe in the perfidy of his son. When Phaedra makes her false accusation, Theseus does believe her simply because the accusation comes from her.
Phaedra shows a complete belief in the power of the gods and states that she and he family are being persecuted by Venus. Both Phaedra and Hippolytus indicate a belief in the gods as tormenters of human beings and as representing some force either to be trusted or feared. Hippolytus fears the anger of the gods when he is approached by Phaedra. Phaedra te
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1624
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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