The title character addresses her father, Helios, as the "noble author of a sad family." Three characters play the role of confidants in this play, namely Ismene, Theramenes, and Oenone, a slave woman who commits suicide after attempting to save her mistress by propagating a lie. The title character, cursed by Aphrodite, utilizes a comparison to Theseus to avow her love to a woman-hater who falls in love with Aricia. Theseus, believing that Hippolytus attempted to rape the title character, asks Poseidon to kill his son,
The title character addresses her father, Helios, as the "noble author of a sad family." Three characters play the role of confidants in this play, namely Ismene, Theramenes, and Oenone, a slave woman who commits suicide after attempting to save her mistress by propagating a lie. The title character, cursed by Aphrodite, utilizes a comparison to Theseus to avow her love to a woman-hater who falls in love with Aricia. Theseus, believing that Hippolytus attempted to rape the title character, asks Poseidon to kill his son, which happens, and is followed by the title character's suicide. For ten points, name this Jean Racine tragedy about a mythological woman who fell in love with her stepson.
The title character addresses her father, Helios, as the "noble author of a sad family.
{Phèdre} or {Phaedra}