Why does Phaedra fall in love with her own stepson Hippolytus?
The Story of Hippolytus and Phaedra As Recounted By Euripides, Seneca and Racine. As punishment, Aphrodite caused Hippolytus’ stepmother Phaedra to fall in love with him. When Phaedra’s unsatisfied desire caused her to begin wasting away, her nurse figured out the truth and advised her to send Hippolytus a letter.
Why is Phedre cursed?
Consumed by jealousy, she refuses to defend Hippolytus further, leaving his father’s curse to run its course. When Oenone tries to make light of her mistress’s illicit love, Phèdre in a towering rage accuses her of being a poisonous scheming monster and banishes her from her presence.
What is the story of Phedre?
Phaedra is a Roman tragedy written by philosopher and dramatist Lucius Annaeus Seneca before 54 A.D. Its 1280 lines of verse tell the story of Phaedra, wife of King Theseus of Athens and her consuming lust for her stepson, Hippolytus.
Why does Phaedra lie about Hippolytus?
Afraid of the consequences and thirsty for revenge, Phaedra rushed to her husband Theseus and lied to him that Hippolytus had tried to seduce her, even going so far to suggest that he did so forcefully. Theseus cursed his son and asked the god Poseidon – who had owed him three wishes – to kill him.
Why did Phaedra wife of Theseus commit suicide?
In revenge, Phaedra wrote Theseus a letter that claimed Hippolytus had raped her. 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.
Who is Hippolytus in love with?
Phaedra
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.
Who cursed pasiphae?
Minos
When Minos offended Poseidon, the sea god cursed Pasiphae with a mad passion for a white bull. With the help of Daedalus, who built a wooden cow in which she could disguise herself, Pasiphae mated with the creature and then gave birth to the fearsome Minotaur.
What was Hippolytus mother?
Hippolyta
Hippolytus of Athens/Mother
In Greek mythology, Hippolytus (Greek: Ἱππόλυτος, Hippolytos “unleasher of horses”; /həˈpɑːlɪtəs/) is the son of Theseus and Hippolyta. His downfall at the hands of Aphrodite is most famously recounted by the playwright Euripides, although other, sometimes differing versions of the story have also survived.
Who does Hippolytus hate?
Hippolytus’ hatred of women is to be understood, but not necessarily condoned, in the context of his character and the play. This chaste man has suffered the most traumatic shock of his young life. Sex with any woman for him is impossible.
Why did Hippolytus leave Phaedra with Oenone?
Oenone, Phaedra’s nurse, announces her mistress, but Hippolytus wishes to avoid an unpleasant meeting, and departs. The queen’s behavior, and her conversation with Oenone, betray her incestuous and forbidden love for Hippolytus.
Why did Phaedra come in to plead for her son?
Phaedra comes in with the purported intention of pleading for her son. However, carried away by her passion, she forgets her original purpose and reveals her secret love.
Why did Phaedra change her mind about Theseus?
Theseus rejects the last argument as a mere ploy. Meanwhile, Phaedra, stricken by remorse, goes to see Theseus to plead for Hippolytus. But she changes her mind when Theseus unwittingly reveals to her that she has a successful rival. She becomes hysterical with jealously and rage.