Phaedra: A Play

“”Phaedra”” by Jean Racine, first performed in 1677, is a classic French tragedy that explores themes of forbidden love, fate, and destruction. The play is based on ancient Greek mythology and follows the tragic downfall of its titular character, Phaedra, the wife of Theseus, the king of Athens. Racine’s adaptation focuses on Phaedra’s overwhelming and illicit passion for her stepson, Hippolytus, and the catastrophic repercussions of her obsession. As the play begins, Theseus is rumored to be dead, having not returned from an expedition. In his absence, Phaedra confesses her forbidden love for Hippolytus to her nurse, Oenone. Despite her deep shame and initial resistance to these feelings, Phaedra eventually declares her love to Hippolytus, who is horrified by her confession. Hippolytus, known for his chastity and honor, rebuffs Phaedra and reveals his love for Aricia, a princess of the royal bloodline whom Theseus had previously cursed to remain childless and unmarried. The situation escalates when news arrives that Theseus is, in fact, not dead but has returned. Overwhelmed by guilt and fear, Phaedra is manipulated by Oenone into accusing Hippolytus of having tried to seduce her, as a way to protect her own reputation. Theseus, enraged by the accusation and misled by a misunderstanding, calls upon the god Neptune to punish Hippolytus. Neptune responds by causing a frightful accident that leads to Hippolytus’s death. Meanwhile, the truth of Phaedra’s actions and the innocence of Hippolytus eventually come to light. Devastated by guilt and despair, Phaedra takes her own life, and Theseus is left to mourn the destruction wrought by jealousy and falsehood. Racine’s “”Phaedra”” is characterized by its intense emotional depth and moral complexity. The play delves deeply into the psychological torment of its characters, driven by uncontrollable desires and irreparable actions. Racine’s language, marked by its classical purity and powerful imagery, heightens the tragic dimension of the story, exploring the dark consequences of human frailty and the inevitable downfall that follows hubris and passion. The play remains a poignant and enduring work in the Western literary canon, reflecting the timeless tragic human conditions. —- ISBN: 9798334453579