|
Euripides wrote two tragedies dealing with the myth of Hippolytus, which in ancient times were distinguished as Hippolytus veiled and Hippolytus bearer of the garland. Only the latter survives. It was first produced in 428 BC when it won the first prize as part of a trilogy. It is likely that the earlier Hippolytus veiled presented a more conventional treatment of the myth where the dangerously impassioned Phaedra tries to lead the honourable and chaste Hippolytus astray. In the surviving play, however, we see a much more even handed and psychologically complex treatment of the characters.
The action of the play is at Trozen where Theseus, king of Athens in exile, is married to Phaedra. Hippolytus is the illegitimate son of Theseus and an amazon. The action is framed by gods, with Aphrodite appearing at the opening and Artemis at the end. These can be taken as representing two conflicting sets of human emotions, passion and chastity and would possibly have been represented on stage by two statues, present as reminders throughout the action.
At the opening of the play Aphrodite appears announcing her desire for vengeance on Hippolytus for not showing her due reverence, stating that even gods are proud and demand being honoured. She outlines how vengeance will be achieved.
Hippolytus appears bearing a garland (hence the title given by ancient scholars) with his followers showing reverence to a statue of Artemis. A servant warns him about his dismissial of Aphrodite.
The chorus, consisting of young married women of Trozen, enters describing how Phaedra is not eating or sleeping. Phaedra and her nurse appear, the former is feeble, struggling to suppress her desire for Hippolytus. Has decided to starve herself and die with her honour intact, but the nurse persuades her to divulge her secret. She has a much more pragmatic approach to the matter, and tries to resolve it by talking to Hippolytus.
The nurse tells Hippolytus of Phaedras desire making him swear an oath that he will not tell anyone else. He reacts furiously going into a tirade on the poisonous nature of women and ends by cursing all women. The secret is out and Phaedra hangs herself, leaving a note accusing Hippolytus of violating her.
Theseus, believing the letter, is furious and uses the curses given to him by Poseidon to curse his son. Hippolytus protests his innocence but will not tell the truth as he is bound by oath to keep quiet about Phaedras predicament. Theseus banishes his son to exile, but soon after he is almost killed by his fathers curse.
Artemis appears clearing Hippolytus name, criticising Theseus for his rash decision. Hippolytus is carried in half-alive lamenting his fate. Father and son are reconciled and soon after he dies. Artemis states she will bring vengeance on one of Aphrodites favourites.
In many ways this play is surprising in its even handed approach to the two main characters, neither being presented in a wholly favourable light. Euripides has often been accused of misogyny in his presentations of characters such as Medea and Electra. However, Hippolytus seems unsympathetically puritan and misogynist though he is partially redeemed by his refusal ot break his oath to the nurse. Similarly, Phaedra is initially presented as sympathetic, honourably struggling against overwhelming odds to do the right thing, though our regard for her is reduced by her indictment of Hippolytus.
External links
| 
