HIPPOLYTUS by Euripides

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A summary and analysis of the play by Euripides

This document was originally published in The Drama: Its History, Literature and Influence on Civilization, vol. 1. ed. Alfred Bates. London: Historical Publishing Company, 1906. pp. 70-78.

Of the extant plays of Euripides, the Hippolytus, which took the first prize at its reproduction in 428 B.C., deserves the highest place. In the prologue, Aphrodite declares herself resolved to punish the chaste Hippolytus, son of Theseus, who disdains her and pays his worship to Artemis. With this design she has put into the heart of Phaedra, the wife of Theseus, a love for her stepson. This Theseus will learn, and then will destroy his son by one of three fatal wishes which Poseidon has promised to fulfill. This will involve the ruin of Phaedra too, but for that there is no help, the goddess caring first for her honor and herself. Presently Hippolytus enters; he lauds his lady Artemis and consecrates to her a garland. An attendant suggests that he should in like manner honor Aphrodite, whose statue also stands at the entrance to the palace. Hippolytus, deaf to advice, persists in ignoring the goddess, and therein lies his offense.

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When he has left the stage the love-sick Phaedra enters with her nurse, to whom, with great difficulty, she is induced to make confession, declaring to the chorus her resolve to die. Meantime the nurse seeks to comfort her, and bids her give her love free course, rather than let herself be consumed by an inexpressible woe. She promises to aid her, but gives no details of the plan. Phaedra anxiously enjoins her in no case to tell the truth to Hippolytus; but she evades the question and hurries away into the house where Hippolytus lives. The unhappy Phaedra remains behind, but soon learns from the tumult within that the nurse has betrayed her secret and that Hippolytus has received the disclosure with horror and dismay. He comes out with the nurse, and bursts into loud imprecations on the female sex. Phaedra sees that the misplaced zeal of the nurse has ruined all; she covers her with reproaches, and again resolves to die. Her resolution is instantly fulfilled.

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