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Overview
Synopsis
A tragic myth from Ancient Greece, Jean Baptiste Racine’s retelling of Phaedra is renowned for its depth of poetry and complex characterization of the titular tragic figure. Phaedra is the wife of Theseus and stepmother to Hippolytus. After word arrives that Theseus has been killed during his expedition, Phaedra confesses that she is actually in love with her stepson. Her wild and erratic emotional states have been the result of denying her passion for Hippolytus, and she begs him to form an alliance with her--or kill her out of pity. However, the prince is disgusted by Phaedra, and pursues his love for Aricia, a young princess kept as a prisoner. When Theseus, to everyone’s amazement, returns alive and well, he is baffled at the strange behavior of his wife and son. To protect Phaedra’s honor, the nurse Oenone crafts a lie: Hippolytus attempted to rape Phaedra. Father and son confront each other, the deceit falls apart, and in her final moments, Phaedra confesses her sins. A dynamic and moving tragedy, Racine’s Phaedra is a haunting examination of forbidden passion and ultimate deceit.
Show Information
- Book
- Jean-Baptiste Racine
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1677
- Genres
- Tragedy
- Settings
- Period, Simple/No Set, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Ancient Greece, Troezen
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
The French Academy; the French institute overseeing matters pertaining to the French language.
A philosophy crafted by Aristotle which suggests that a well-made play has one main story, takes place in a compact amount of time, and has one setting.
Stories from ancient cultures about divine figures and supernatural events, often considered as a combination of literature, science, history, and religion
Description of material not protected by copyright law.
A play that centers around the downfall of the main character through tragic actions and events.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress