What is the play Phaedra about?

Phaedra is a Roman tragedy with Greek subject of c. 1280 lines of verse 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. Seneca's play continues to be performed today.

Hereof, why does Phaedra kill herself?

As a result, Hippolytus's horses were frightened by a sea monster and dragged their rider to his death. 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.

One may also ask, how does Hippolytus die in Phaedra? In retaliation, Aphrodite made Phaedra fall in love with him. Hippolytus' rejection of Phaedra led to his death in a fall from a chariot.

Also to know is, what is the meaning of Phaedra?

From the Greek Φαιδρα (Phaidra), derived from φαιδρος (phaidros) meaning "bright". Phaedra was the daughter of Minos and the wife of Theseus in Greek mythology. Aphrodite caused her to fall in love with her stepson Hippolytos, and after she was rejected by him she killed herself.

Is Phaedra a victim or a victimizer?

Phaedra is both a victim and a victimizer, which adds complexity to her character. According to the French playwright Jean Racine, Phaedra is driven by fate and the gods' anger into a forbidden love that horrifies her more than anyone else.

17 Related Question Answers Found

Who was Phaedra married to?

Apollo Nida

m. 2009–2017

Who was Hippolyta in Greek mythology?

In Classical Greek mythology, Hippolyta (/h?ˈp?l?t?/; Greek: Ιππόλυτα Hippolyta) was the Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle (a waist belt that signified her authority as queen of the Amazons) given to her by her father Ares, the god of war.

Where does Phaedra take place?

Phaedra (Seneca)

Phaedra and Hippolytus, c. 290 AD
Author	Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Genre	Tragedy
Set in	Athens
Publication date	1st century

Who was killed by Theseus?

When Theseus reached manhood, Aethra sent him to Athens. On the journey he encountered many adventures. At the Isthmus of Corinth he killed Sinis, called the Pine Bender because he killed his victims by tearing them apart between two pine trees.

How old is Phaedra?

46 years (October 26, 1973)

What is the tragic story of Phaedra Theseus 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 does Hippolytus mean?

Definition of Hippolytus. : a son of Theseus falsely accused of amorous advances by his stepmother and killed by his father through the agency of Poseidon.

Who built the labyrinth?

Daedalus

Who killed the Minotaur?

Theseus

How did Medea's children die?

In Corinth, Jason abandoned Medea for the king's daughter, Glauce. Before the fifth century BC, there seem to have been two variants of the myth's conclusion. According to the poet Eumelus, to whom the fragmentary epic Korinthiaka is usually attributed, Medea killed her children by accident.

Where is Medea from?

The plot centers on the actions of Medea, a former princess of the "barbarian" kingdom of Colchis, and the wife of Jason; she finds her position in the Greek world threatened as Jason leaves her for a Greek princess of Corinth.

Medea (play)

Medea
Original language	Ancient Greek
Genre	Tragedy
Setting	Before Medea's house in Corinth

How does Phaedra initially respond to curse?

The nurse and the chorus are shocked. Phaedra explains that she must starve herself and die with her honour intact. However, the nurse quickly retracts her initial response and tells Phaedra that she has a magical charm to cure her. After making the chorus swear secrecy, she goes inside and hangs herself.

Who was Theseus son?

Acamas was the son of King Theseus of Athens and Phaedra, daughter of Minos. He was the brother or half brother to Demophon.