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Euripides Hippolytus

Decent Essays

Euripides’ Hippolytus shows three key themes that are significant to the play, by showing the theme of lust, honour and betrayal which are shown from the lines 490-512, they set up the flow of the play and relates directly to the dramatic conflict between the lust and continence of Phaedra and Hippolytus, this scene shows Phaedra to be the true central character of the play since her actions are pivotal to the fate Hippolytus and herself.
The extract epitomises the theme of lust. In the exchange the nurse encourages Phaedra to give in to her lust to cure her feelings, ‘I would never egg you on like this to get you into bed with your man.’ (Euripides, 2003, Line 494). This suggests that instead of fighting the feelings in silence as Phaedra …show more content…

This scene gives an insight in to the character of Phaedra as opposed to the effect Aphrodite has had over her. The scene shows that Phaedra is disgusted by the nurse’s insistence on bedding Hippolytus, ‘what an appalling thing to say!’ (Euripides, 2003, Line 498) Phaedra’s reaction to the nurse’ encouragement of adultery shows that her honour and virtue is of more importance, but she is losing her battle, ‘I shall be consumed in what I am trying to shun’ (Euripides, 2003, Line 506). The nurse however does not see the implications that acting upon Phaedra’s feelings would have. This shows the significance of the scene as it sets the flow of the play and leads to the death of both Phaedra and Hippolytus.
Betrayal is a theme throughout Euripides’ Hippolytus, in the exchange between the nurse and Phaedra the theme of betrayal is alluded to, the nurse attempts to convince Phaedra to betray Theseus by giving in to her emotions to cure her of her lust for Hippolytus. Phaedra is unwilling to betray Theseus, but the nurse convinces her that using her love charm would ‘do no harm to your wits or your reputation’ ((Euripides, 2003, Line 511). This sets the theme for the rest of the

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