Consider “Phaedra” as a Revenge Tragedy

Answer

Consider “Phaedra” as a revenge tragedy.  

Roman playwright Seneca’s (4 BC-AD 65) Phaedra exemplifies the best paradigm of a revenge tragedy. It shows that irrelevant passionate love is nothing but merely a source of destruction. It focuses on the destructive power of vengeance, curses, and uncontrollable passions. It highlights the divine and human desire for revenge that drives the characters to inevitable destruction.

Divine Revenge and the Curse of Lust: The central theme of Phaedra is divine vengeance. Phaedra’s obsessive desire for Hippolytus is portrayed as a curse from Venus (goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, and victory). According to the play, Venus seeks revenge on Phaedra’s family because Apollo (an ancestor of Phaedra) exposed her affair with Mars. 

This divine curse takes the form of unnatural lust. It echoes the fate of Phaedra’s mother, Pasiphae, who lusted after a bull. Seneca uses this connection to emphasise that Phaedra’s destructive passion is not merely a personal flaw. Instead, it results from a vengeful curse that brings suffering upon her and everyone around her.

Phaedra’s False Accusation as Revenge: When Hippolytus rejects Phaedra’s love, she lashes out in revenge. She falsely accused him of attempting to rape her. This false accusation of emotional revenge was born from her wounded pride and desperation. Phaedra’s nurse encourages her to follow her deceitful plan. It reflects the darker side of revenge. Her actions set off a tragic chain reaction that leads to Hippolytus’ death. This point in the play highlights how lies and deceit are often used as tools for vengeance. Phaedra’s nurse says,

We must throw the crime back on him himself, and ourselves charge him with incestuous love. Crime must be concealed by crime.

Theseus’ Sudden Revenge: In the tragedy, Theseus’ sudden decision to seek revenge against his son Hippolytus precipitates the tragedy. Without proper investigation upon Hearing Phaedra’s accusation, Theseus immediately calls upon his father, Neptune, to curse Hippolytus. Theseus says, 

Now fulfill the sad boon, O ruler of the sea! Let Hippolytus see the bright day no more,…

This foolish act reflects the tragic flaw in revenge tragedies, which act on emotion rather than reason. Theseus’ hasty judgment sets in motion his son’s irreversible doom.

The Role of Misunderstanding and Misinformation: Misunderstandings and misinformation are key features of revenge tragedy that lead to fatal outcomes. Hearing Phaedra’s accusation against Hippolytus, Theseus acts with rage and grief without seeking evidence or hearing Hippolytus’ side. This tragic misunderstanding leads directly to the death of his innocent son. The tragedy illustrates deception and partial truths that lead humans to senseless destruction.

The Tragic Consequences of Revenge: In Phaedra, the results of revenge are very pathetic. Hippolytus dies brutally. When the truth is revealed, Theseus feels deep grief. He says

 I free you from all guilt in this.

He realizes too late that his act of revenge is based on a lie. After Hippolytus’ death, Phaedra confesses her guilt in the following way:

I have lied to you, and the crime which, crazed with passion, I had conceived in my own mad breast, I falsely charged to him.

Revenge as a Reflection of Human and Divine Flaws: Phaedra also reflects the flaws inherent in both human and divine beings. The gods also feel jealousy and anger. They curse mortals with tragic fates.  Similarly, Humans act out of pride, passion, and nastiness to create a cycle of revenge that ultimately destroys them. 

In “Phaedra”, Seneca presents revenge as a powerful and destructive force that consumes both the guilty and the innocent. Divine curses, false accusations and hasty decisions lead to tragic consequences. Focusing on revenge, deception, and the flaws of mortals and gods firmly, Seneca made “Phaedra” a classic revenge tragedy.