35 pages • 1 hour read
SenecaPhaedra
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 54A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Phaedra, one of the 10 surviving tragedies attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca, recounts Phaedra's consuming and unrequited desire for her stepson Hippolytus, which incites a series of tragic misunderstandings and events. The play delves into themes such as the destructiveness of passion, the interplay of heredity and fate, and the conflict between sexes, loosely based on Euripides's earlier work, "Hippolytus." The source material features violence, sexual misconduct, and suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Seneca’s Phaedra has received mixed reviews. Critics praise its intense emotional depth and complex character portrayals, highlighting Seneca's skilful exploration of themes like passion and guilt. However, some find the melodramatic elements and verbose dialogue detract from the overall impact. Despite this, it remains a powerful adaptation of the classic myth.
Who Should Read Phaedra?
A reader who would enjoy Phaedra by Seneca likely appreciates classical literature, tragic drama, and intricate character studies. Similar to readers of Euripides' Hippolytus and Shakespeare's Hamlet, they are drawn to themes of passion, fate, and moral conflict.