Phaedre

Phedre and Oenone

Phedre
Ted Hughes
ISBN 0-374-52616-8

Q1
A. Some people are better at hiding their feelings than others. If the feeling is not spoken about it can shine through in behaviour, attitude, and body language.
At some point it probably manifest itself and needs to be expressed. It's not healthy to suppress feelings

B. Phedre reveals her feelings when she thinks it is safe to do so. She is mistaken and she knows she's wrong and is punished. But feeling is not a crime.

Q2
A. Guilt manifests in Phedre's expression of emotional turmoil and fear.
page 47-48
Confession (46) (69)
Shame (71) unworthy (50)
Phedre's unrelenting guilt makes her feel like she wants to die (46)
Phedre is worried about gossip, how she will be judged in the opinions of others and her reputation being tainted.
Also,  for the crime. She feels like a criminal (69),  accused , needing to be punished (68)
monstrous(69)
The gods will punish with vengeance (69)

B. Phedre is too emotional, deranged (53),  to reason clearly "Do what you want, Oenone. I leave everything to your discretion. I cannot make one move to help myself" (50)
 Phedre feels as though gods have taken her senses (11)
Feels fate is inescapable ( 18)

C. She can no longer conceal the truth

Q3
Oenone  empathizes and consoles Phedre, "You are mortal" (70)
Phedre accuses Oenone for making her' see' Hippolytus (70)
Oenone prompts Phedre to accuse Hippolytus before he accuses her (49)
Or to keep silent and let her speak to Theseus (49)
Oenone tells Theseus that Hippolytus attentions are driving Phedre mad (56)
Intention (REASON) Backfires
Phedre to Oenone, "your evil incriminatibg mouth ..." (70)
Oenone commits suicide out of guilt for failing Phedre (78)

Q4
Phedre claims she's in love (15)
Curse of Venus (14)
Phedres feelings for Hipploytus are from him staring at her (16)
She has a physical reaction- it's chemical
described as fallimg into the goddesses furnace (16-17)
Phedre adores Hippolytus image (17)
She banished him so it could not have been a physical or spiritual connection.

It was a crush , interpreted as incestuous passion (87)
Hipplytus is not a blood relative; actually not a relation of Phedre.

Q5
Hippolytus claims "I never wanted her. I never sought her" (51)
stairway to crime, just as to virtue (59)
claims innocence , reveals love for Aricia
In the conversation with Theseus , ACT IV (55-62), Hippolytus uses reason
Phedre declares his innocence (87)
Theseus banishes son (62) at the gates the Gods take Hippolytus ( 81-84)

Q6
Both woman are concerned about the consequences and their reputations
With confused minds they feed off each other in the struggle of what to do.
It's a flight or fight mode of panic

Phedre takes poison like her "sister Medea"