Phedre
(Jean Racine)
Another masterpiece by Racine of the neo-classical tragedy,
Phédre, adapted from the tragedy by Seneca, is a story of
unnatural love. As the Greek myth states, Hippolytus, the
perfect son of Theseus, decides to remain chaste and deny
Venus her rights. Venus, incensed by Hyppolytus? arrogant
contempt of her powers, gets revenge on him by striking his
stepmother Phédre with overwhelming love of him. Phédre?s
passion causes a series of events which lead to tragedy and
the downfall of Hyppolytus.
Racine?s tragedy looks more into the psychological state of
the characters and focuses less on divine intervention.
Whereas the Greeks were fascinated by unnatural imbalance
of Hippolytus? denial of sexual passion, the neoclassicists
feared more the danger of passion overcoming reason and the
drama centers on the stepmother?s sexual desire rather than
the stepson?s chaste resolove.
The play begins with Phédre being left alone again by her
husband Theseus, and with the presence of her stepson
Hippolytus, she grows ill out of her desire for him. Soon
news comes to her of Theseus? death, and Phédre finally
confesses her love for Hippolytus to her nurse. The nurse
convinces Phédre to confess her love to the stepson.
Hippolytus however, is shocked by his stepmother?s
advances. He is in love with the Athenian princess Aricia,
and rejects Phédre. When Theseus returns to the palace,
unexpectedly, Phédre is afraid of what will happen if
Hippolytus tells him of her unnatural advances. Her
resourceful nurse convinces Phédre to tell her husband that
Hippolytus attempted to rape her. Theseus, incensed by such
disrespect, calls upon Neptune to destroy Hippolytus. After
hearing of his death, Phédre confesses to her husband and
then kills herself. Theseus is left distraught by the death
of both his son and wife, and offers protection to Aricia,
Hippolytus? betrothed, as his only compensation after the
dreadful events.
Resumos Relacionados
- Hyppolotus
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Hippolyte
- Shakespear- Mid Summer Night's Stream
- Hipólito (hippolyte)
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