Phaedra by Seneca
Two Important Characters and The Role of The Nurse
I’m going to write to analyze the characters of Hippolytus and Phaedra, and also the role of the nurse of Phaedra. Lucius Annaeus Seneca, also known as Phaedra’s author Seneca, was also a philosopher and rhetorician. It is written before 54 A.D by him. It is a catastrophe that recounts the tale of Phaedra, spouse of King Theseus of Athens, and her devouring desire for her stepson, Hippolytus.
I want to start the analysis with the Hippolytus. Hippolytus, who had certain reasons to leave Troezen after the loss of his father, has desires which lead to putting him to a negative point. Hippolytus who is handsome and kind-hearted, unlike his father, falls in love with Aricia. However, he is the youthful lover enduring the recognizable aches of pathetic love both scared of adoration and enamored by Aricia. However, the feelings of his stepmother pushing him into a game. Although it was claimed that Phaedra was raped by Hippolytus, Hippolytus did not stop proving his innocence with his strong attitude. This shows how strong a character Hippolytus is.
When we look at our other important character Phaedra, we clearly see that her love made her sick. Phaedra, who is in love with her stepson, only confess this to her caregiver at first. She can’t behave respectfully to her husband with the weight of the secret she is hiding in her. However, Phaedra made me feel pity and fear because of her persuasion skill. In my view of the fact that she can control everything with that. In fact, she is virtuous at the main of her character. Nevertheless, she is under the influence of powerful forces that push her against evil. In my opinion, Phaedra is neither a good nor a bad character.
The nurse’s role contributes unequivocally to the genuineness of the scene. Without her request, Phaedra would have kept her mystery a secret forever. She has her own individual qualification. Her hard affection has a terrifying power, and she additionally contributes altogether to the advancement of the play. She boosts the play as opposed to sabotages the solidarity of the play. She is the loyal maid of Phaedra’s urges.
All in all, there are some characteristic features of the characters of the ‘’Phaedra’’ which I mentioned above. Although they vary in each condition, I tried to examine them in general terms.
— Yaren Karakoç —
