In Phaedra, Jean Racine allows the characters passions to be their downfalls. Jean Racine lived during the Age of Enlightenment. This period styled itself by making choices based on reason. By allowing the characters to be at fault by their own passions, Racine depicts the Enlightenment periods theme of passion versus reason. Phaedra amplifies the chaos of uncontemplated passions. The characters are led to self destruction by letting their passions overcome all reason. The characters know what the choices are to enact reason, but their internal struggles with passion are too great to express obvious reason.
Destruction is an inevitable ate when passion exists in a character. Phyllis Mael expresses this point by saying, There is no possibility of salvation for those afflicted with passion. Racine presents mans fate as pre-destined and not subject to human control (4635). Phaedra, the plays lead character, cannot overcome her tainted love for Hippolytus. This forbidden love scolds her soul to the point of manifesting itself as death. Phaedra says, Im faint; my strength abandons me, Ifear. My eyes are blinded by the glare of day, and now I feel my trembling knees give way.
Alas! (Racine 174). The light represents her unreasoned passion that drains the life from her. This internal struggle with passion for Hippolytus completely controls Phaedra. At this point, she is unable to gain back any control over her emotions and is doomed for destruction. She says to Oenone, I feel loves raging thirst (Racine 176). By implying that Phaedras love for Hippolytus is like a thirst, Racine shows that Phaedra feels the passion overtaking her. Phaedra lets her passionate heart rule over her reasonable mind.
Wallace Fowlie makes an interesting observation related to this by saying, Phedre is never separated from her heart, as most men and women daily (335). Most people can control irrational feelings in their hearts and ct reasonable to maintain a stable life. Phaedra never makes this accomplishment. Phaedra is not the only one affected by her ravaged emotions; Oenone, Phaedras nurse, kills herself in response to Phaedras madness over the death of Hippolytus. Phaedra says, Of my vile passion, make it known to you, abused my weakness and, by vicious rose, made haste to be the first one to accuse.
For that shes paid; fleeing my wrath, she found too mild a death and in the waves is drowned (Racine 209). Oenone lied to Theseus and Hippolytus and this act brought about Hippolytus death. The passion Phaedra felt for Hippolytus quickened in Oenone causing her to rown herself. Hippolytus passion to emulate and adore his famous father leads to his demise. Hippolytus wants the world to know that he is Theseus son and honor his father by doing great deeds. Hippolytus says, But I, the unknown son of such a sire, lack even the fame of my mothers deed inspire.
Let me at long last show my courage, and, if any monster has escaped your hand, bring back its pelt and lay it at your feet, or let me by a glorious death complete a life that will defy oblivion and prove to all the world I was your son (Racine 193). The unbridled zeal of Hippolytus only sows he seed of deceit into his fathers head. Hippolytus virtue is his downfall. Out of pure respect for his father, Hippolytus cannot tell him the embarrassing truth about Phaedras plea for love. Hippolytus tells Aricia, What more should I have told him? How she smirched their marriage-tie?
How could I, by disclosing everything, humiliate my father and my king? (Racine 202). By hiding the truth for passionate love, Hippolytus dooms himself to fall into Oenones deceitful trap- a trap which also engulfs the king. The passion in Hippolytus to prove his worthiness as Theseus son causes him to avoid all reason. Theseus has no control over his anger of the allegations made about Hippolytus and Phaedra. Unable to accept reason, Theseus banishes his son with a deadly curse, And you, O Neptune, if by courage I once cleared your shores of murderers, hear my cry.
Recall that, as reward for that great task, you swore to grant the first thing I should ask. Pent in a cruel jail for endless hours, I never called on your immortal powers. Ive hoarded up the aid you promised me. Till greater need should justify my plea. I make it now. Avenge a fathers wrong. Seize on this traitor, and let your rage be strong. Drown in his blood his brazen lust. Ill know our favor by the fury that you show (Racine 196). Theseus passion of jealousy and anger overruns any reason that might have existed. He never even questions the accusations that have been made against Hippolytus.
This passion that Theseus feels for his wife consumes him and he wants this to be shown through his plea to Neptune. Unfortunately, this horrid plea for vengeance and lack of restraint becomes a reality. When Theseus learns of Oenones deceit, he tries to take the curse back, but the events have already occurred- the deed is done. Hippolytus is dead. With remorseful regret, Theseus says of Hippolytus death, It will pursue me ver, like a curse: Would I were banished from the universe! All seems to chide my wicked wrathfulness. My very fame now adds to my distress (Racine 208).
The passion of jealousy and anger shadowed all reason in Theseus. After Hippolytus death, Theseus realizes the mistake that he has made as he tells Phaedra, How curst a father am I! I doomed him, trusting in your heartless lie! (Racine 209). He realizes that the consequences of his actions leave him in lonely isolation forever. Michael Wood said it very simply, Racines Phaedra personifies the passions of its characters and the responsibilities these actions create (214). Racine gave Phaedra, Hippolytus and Theseus passions that went beyond their mortal bounds of reason.
These passions proved to be the decisive factors that change the lives of everyone in the play. Their passions procreated their unreasoned destruction. Paul Valery says Passion secretes a fatal poison that is, at first, only faintly active, easily eliminated, and passes unnoticed. But a few trifles can quicken it so that, suddenly, it can overwhelm all our powers of reason, and our fear of men and gods (331). With the passion that existed in all three characters, Phaedra, Hippolytus and Theseus, their destruction was inevitable.
