Book details
Phèdre
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Stored record
Metadata
- Gutenberg ID
- —
- Title
- Phèdre
- Language
- en
- Book source
- Global Grey
- Description max 80 words
-
Jean Racine's classical tragedy explores forbidden love, guilt, and fate within Greek mythology. Set in Troezen, the play delves into passion, honor, and the devastating consequences of human desire, presenting a powerful narrative of divine vengeance and tragic error.
- Summary up to 500 words
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Jean Racine's *Phèdre* stands as a profound tragedy exploring the destructive power of forbidden love and divine retribution. The narrative centers on Phaedra, wife of King Theseus of Athens, who is struck by an unnatural passion for his stepson, Hippolytus. Haunted by the fates of her mother Pasiphae and sister Ariadne, Phaedra views her feelings as a curse from Venus. Her nurse, Oenone, urges confession, but Phaedra fears the shame it will bring to her sons and husband. When Theseus returns from the underworld, believing he is dead, Phaedra attempts to seduce Hippolytus. Upon his rejection, she falsely accuses him of rape. Enraged, Theseus curses Hippolytus and orders his exile. Hippolytus flees to Troezen, where he is pursued by Aricia, a woman he loves but feels forbidden to marry due to her lineage. Tragically, Theseus's curse summons a sea monster that attacks Hippolytus's chariot. The horses, driven mad, drag the young prince to his death. As he dies, Hippolytus reveals his innocence and asks Theseus to care for Aricia. Upon hearing this, Theseus realizes his error and the truth of Phaedra's confession, which she delivers before succumbing to a poison sent by Medea. The play concludes with Theseus in deep remorse, honoring Hippolytus and adopting Aricia as his daughter. The audience is left to contemplate the cruelty of the gods and the devastation wrought by unchecked passion. The work is noted for its intense psychological realism and the stark contrast between the nobility of the characters and the baseness of their passions.
- LLM editorial rating
- 4.2/5
- Download URL
- https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/jean-racine_phedre.epub
- Local file path
-
data/epubs/url-bee5ef28c879e5b2.epub - Downloaded at
- 2026-06-30 05:32 UTC
People
Authors
- Jean Racine
Classification
Categories
- Drama
- Tragedy