The One True Dave

Hippolytus

By Euripides

This is the play that Racine rewrote and called Phaedra, the plot points are the same.  However, Euripides’ play dips into some biting criticism about the Gods (and their one-up-man-ship with each other over the attention of mortals) whereas Racine’s play focuses on the passions and frailties of women.  Here, Aphrodite (Cypris), is definitely the trouble-maker in an almost Iago-esque manner with her opening monologue about how jealous she is of Artemis and her faithful worshipper, Hippolytus.

Date: This play won the City Dionysia in 428 BCE.

Style: Ancient Greek, three speaking actors, masks, cathorni, chorus of (probably) fifteen members that sometimes broke into two groups of seven with a chorus leader.  Five episodes separated by choral odes.

Cast: Aphrodite, Hippolytus, Huntsmen, Servant of Hippolytus, Nurse of Phaedra, Chorus of Women, Chorus-leader, Phaedra, Theseus, Artemis.

Plot: Theseus is out of town.  Aphrodite hates the fact that Hippolytus (Theseus’ son and Phaedra’s stepson) is a strapping young man but chaste.  He worships Artemis – Virgin Goddess of the hunt – and shuns women while he hunts continuously.  Aphrodite vows to mess with Hippolytus in the prologue.  Hippolytus enters and immediately addresses the statue of Artemis. H’s Servant warns him about favoring one God over the others and points out that Aphrodite should be worshipped too.  Hippolytus listens politely but shuns Aphrodite’s statue by saying things like, “No god who is worshipped at night suits me.”  Scathing!

Episode 2: Phaedra confesses to her Nurse that she is stricken with passionate love for her stepson.  Phaedra hasn’t eaten in days and is delirious from hunger and longing because of this.  The Nurse is initially appalled and then comes up with the bright idea of confiding this fact to Hippolytus in the hope he would be willing to oblige.

Episode 3: The Nurse talks to Hippolytus inside the palace.  Phaedra waits outside.  Hippolytus, of course, is incensed and storms out of the palace to berate the Nurse in Phaedra’s presence.  This doesn’t go well.  Phaedra worries about her reputation.

Episode 4: Theseus returns home in a great mood to be confronted by the fact Phaedra has hung herself.  On her body she left a note saying Hippolytus forced himself on her and she took her life from shame.  Hippolytus arrives because of the wailing of the servants.  He and Theseus have an argument.  Hippolytus makes three strong arguments why he is innocent.  Theseus, however, chooses to believe Phaedra’s note.  Theseus exiles his son.

Episode 5: A Servant enters to inform Theseus of the exciting/gruesome fate that befell Hippolytus upon leaving the city at the hand of Poseidon (Theseus’ father).  The Servant leaves (probably to allow the actor to change masks and become Artemis in a few moments!) as Hippolytus is brought in to share his last dying breaths.  He is broken.  Theseus starts to realize he was hasty in condemning his son.  Artemis, herself, arrives to tell Theseus how rash and douchy he had been to Hippolytus, her favorite mortal.  However, she doesn’t really blame Theseus because she knows it was all Aphrodite’s handiwork.  With Aphrodite at fault, Phaedra is also absolved of responsibility.  Artemis then vows to wreak havoc on Aphrodite’s favorite mortal to revenge this indiscretion.  Thus, the cycle of mortals caught in the jealous tiffs between the Gods continues.  Hence Euripedes’ critical view of the role of the Gods in Greek society.