Phaedra

Phaedra (Phèdre)

    Author: Jean Racine

    First Performance: 1677, Paris

    Published: 1677

    First English Translation: 1756

    Genre: Trag. in 5 acts; French alexandrines

    Setting: Theseus' palace in Troezen, in the mythical past

    Cast: 3m, 5f, extras

Phaedra is in thrall to Venus, the goddess of love, and is consumed by passion for her stepson Hippolytus. Yet again her adventuring husband Theseus has left her alone in the palace with Hippolytus, and, when news of Theseus' death comes, Phaedra is persuaded by her nurse and confidante to confess her love to Hippolytus. However, Hippolytus, who loves the Athenian princess Aricia, is horrified at his stepmother's declaration and cruelly rejects her. When Theseus unexpectedly returns, Phaedra, fearing that Hippolytus will denounce her, accuses him of...

[The entire page is 489 words long]

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