Hippolytus Myths

Superior Essays
Myth uses the medium of a story to describe the activities of the gods and larger than life humans, emphasising interpersonal relationships. These stories were neither singular nor static but evolved with different versions and were manipulated to highlight different values and ideologies. I agree with the statement and will argue that the myths of Hippolytus and the foundation myths of Roman were used by ancient societies to bind its members into a cohesive unit. This essay will explore the ways in which myth were used to bring members of an ancient society together by instigating and reinforcing civic identity and pride. Explore how the role of myths defined and unified the elite. Discuss how myths were used to reinforce social conventions …show more content…
The festival included a parade of war orphans and tribute money collected from subject cities justifying Athenian identity as leaders to the Greek world to visiting foreigners and other civic dignitaries (Open University, 2010). Tragedy plays were part of this festival, in which competing playwrights persuaded both judges and the audience of their innovative interpretations of the various myths, a competition that Hippolytus won in 428 BCE. In Hippolytus, Euripides uses the Hippolytus’ myth to promote Athenian identity and pride by exploring a tragic episode in the Athenian’s hero Theseus life. Theseus epitomises idealised Athenian values and Euripides as a tragedian is interested in exploring the conflicts and dilemmas of heroism (Buxton, 2010, p.72-3). In Hippolytus Theseus witnesses, the destruction of his household caused by his wife suicide and him cursing his son causing his death. The central role played by choruses in tragedy was particular source of pride as they consisting of ordinary Athenian citizens from the different tribes (Open University, 2010) recalling the …show more content…
Euripides uses the two choruses, male and female, to reflect the conflict between Phaedra and Hippolytus. The chorus, as a substitute community for the attending audience, offers support and advice and become complicit in the action. In Hippolytus they do not break their oath of silence to Phaedra when the letter is discovere even though they foresee ‘sorrows’ (Hippolytus, 882) and tell Theseus to reconsider his curse towards Hippolytus (Hippolytus, 892). The choral odes act as a bridge between the play and the audience, offering insights and general morals drawn from other myths to show how the play events fit into the broader philosophical and ethical scheme. Euripides reinforces Greek civic identity by referring to democratic process. He focuses the attention of the audience on their role as citizen jurors in the discussion between Hippolytus and Theseus (Hippolytus, L915-1080) over Phaedra’s letter, containing an accusation of rape. The discussion resembles a court trial with accusing and defending arguments and oaths in

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    | Course Syllabus College of Humanities HUM/105 World Mythology | Copyright © 2011, 2009, 2005 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course provides an overview of mythology and its relationship to ancient and current cultures. The course covers the purposes and types of myths, the development of myths and mythological characters, the common elements of mythological structures, the predominant characteristics of deities and sacred places in myth, contemporary theories of myths and mythology, and how myths and mythic structures shape contemporary culture. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following…

    • 2803 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Along with their separate reasons of what really happened in the woods, they argue over the effectiveness of the “Pyramus and Thisbe” play performed by the workmen. Hippolyta is of the opinion that because of the amateur actors’ lack of talent, the true message and sentiment of the story cannot be conveyed. Theseus disagrees, saying that the actor’s intentions are the responsibility of the audience to interpret. He likes the simplicity of the play, which is brought out by the actors’ inexperience. This outlook of Theseus is interesting because, while at the beginning of Act I he was the voice of reason, and was dedicated to carrying out the law of the land, here he also has a soft spot for the ridiculous, choosing the "tedious brief" and "tragical mirth" () play because of the paradox in its…

    • 1186 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Greek and Roman theatre have a tremendous impact on Desire Under the Elms, which is grounded on Greek mythology and Roman tragedy. The characters in this play find themselves self-indulged concerning their father’s New England farm, and an adulterous affair. Eugene O’Neil’s catastrophic play is established on the idea of Euripides’ Greek tragedy, Hippolytus. He intentionally embeds a Greek myth initiated on an American historic background in order to give his play a greater prominence. In this play the author stresses the importance of the tragedy Euripides’ Hippolytus not only in the direction but also in the title of the play itself.…

    • 188 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Polyphemus In The Odyssey

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Classical Greek literature, such as Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey, embodies heroic ideals while focusing on virtues like honor, bravery, and vengeance. Alternatively, Hellenistic Greek literature, such as Theocritus, concentrates on emotional values of humans and gods. A specific case can be identified in the Cyclops Polyphemus. Homer depicts Polythemus as a savage monster who feasts on Odysseus’s men, whereas Theocritus illustrates him as a sentimental Cyclops in love with the nymph Galatea.…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Archetypes In Medea

    • 1417 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Originally performed in the festival of Dionysia in 431 BC, Euripides' tragedy Medea may have been controversial to the predominantly male audience of the time. Subverting Athenian cultural norms of the era by presenting a female perspective, Medea exposes not only the flaws in individuals but also within society. In this play there is an imbalance of passion and logic, which has dire consequences for an individual and an even “greater ruin” for humanity and society at large. Medea is characterised as the impassioned protagonist representing the emotional pillar of Athenian society. Euripides emphasises that the majority of the male audience not only need to aware of the dangers of excessive passion and emotion as one leads to cold logic that's…

    • 1417 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Because she had no choice in loving Hippolytus, had no ability to ever choose to be with him, and could not prevent Hippolytus from finding about her love, Phaedra decides that the only way to avoid “scandal on [her] name” (798) is by killing herself. By justifying her actions as a means to protect her reputation from “scandal,” Phaedra once again projects her obsession with public social status. However, the context through which she says this reveals how a greater desire for agency truly drives her fixation with reputation. For example, in response to hearing that her nurse had revealed her secret to Hippolytus, Phaedra orders her to “mind [her] own affairs” (784) instead of meddling with Phaedra’s, declaring that she herself “will make things right” (785). Her orders to her nurse clearly demonstrate Phaedra’s belief that other people have messed with her life while her statement that she will fix the problem reasserts her desire to solve her affliction by her own actions.…

    • 1619 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Even Shakespeare acknowledges at the beginning of his play that their relationship is not a naturally occurring one through Theseus’ lines: “I woo’d thee with my sword, / And won thy love doing thee injuries” (I.i.16-17). They are together now because Theseus, Athenian leader, has captured Amazonian Hippolyta, traditionally a race of women who refuse to be subject to men. Yet even this strained relationship appears to bear happy promises by the end of the play, never mind that many questions remain as to how their relationship could ever reach a happy, equal level. Theseus eagerly awaits a “play / To ease the anguish of a torturing hour” (V.i.36-37) that remains before he may go to bed with Hippolyta. Though she makes no such mention of love or affection for Theseus, she calls him “my Theseus” (V.i.1), making it possible and easy for readers to assume that this relationship of questionable provenance is one that will go on happily as will the others.…

    • 1302 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    As a result of the Nurses internal struggle, Phaedra is placed in a quandary and experiences inner-conflict too. Now, Phaedra feels that she must ensure “her children’s good name and avoiding disgrace”(Halleran 2001: 717-721). Phaedra’s desire to maintain her image results in her committing suicide and setting off the final chain in a series of events. When Theseus discovers his wife’s tablet that claims Hippolytus had raped her, he is placed in the dilemma of believing his wife or believing his son. Theseus’ does not take much time to contemplate his internal struggle, asking Poseidon to “make an end of my son”(Euripides 2001: 889) before he even spoke to Hippolytus.…

    • 1456 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hades

    • 1478 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the present political climate of fear, uncertainty, and division, the most important form of resistance is continued defiance and unwavering hope that things can be made better. Throughout history, in unstable times, one method of control by governing bodies has been instilling hopelessness and creating division. The age-old trope of building walls, both physically and ideologically, to maintain control through spreading hatred and distrust of differences and diversity. During this increasingly unstable time, not falling victim to panic and suspicion is one of the most important requirements to solving the issues we are facing. One Ancient Greek myth which has been adapted to a modern flair, embodies this lesson.…

    • 1478 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the Aristophanes’ play Lysistrata, is satire that not only links sex and politics in ancient Greece, but also shows the faults of the Athenian democracy and the relationship between men and women. In straight forward terms the play Lysistrata shows the struggle to come to a solution to ultimately end the disastrous Peloponnesian War. More Specifically the need to understand why the women were so essential to end the Peloponnesian War is vital in the play. Thus, the author constructs a vision into understanding political and gender issues of the period.…

    • 1293 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Homeric and Hellenistic Epics and Tragedy are two genres distinct from one another in many ways. Tragedy is more compact than Epic, not wasting time on repetition or embellishments. They also differ in that the purpose of Tragedy is to show the downfall of great heroes and royalty, but Epic focused more on the heroic code and the glory of heroes. One of the things that both genres showcase though, is fate is important in everyone’s lives. Although Greek society’s ideals of heroes have changed from Epic to Tragedy, the role that fate plays in both types of poetry has stayed consistent.…

    • 1874 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Role of women in ancient Greek mythology Name Institution Introduction Myths serve two key functions: 1) to answer the kind of awkward questions normally asked by children like ‘How was the world made? Who was the first person to live in the world? Where do the souls of the dead go?’ 2)…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Medea Passion Analysis

    • 1075 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “Medea explores the tension between reason and passion”. Discuss It is within the very nature of humans to isolate the polarised forces of reason and passion, yet within his Greek tragedy Medea, Euripides demonstrates the “fatal results” of possessing a predisposition for either frame of mind. Indeed, the antagonistic relationship between Medea and society best contextualises the gripping antithesis between maintaining an acceptable outward demeanour and laying bare our inner impulses respectively, however, at its core, this rupture is also self evident on an intrapersonal level as observed in Medea’s character. In presenting the consequences of the oppressive culture of Greek society, as well as the extent of destruction entailed with Medea’s…

    • 1075 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    As husband and wife disagree, the entire house feels the tension. This marital love is also exemplified in this play by the Duke of Athens, Theseus and his betrothed, Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta. They are not yet married but their actions toward each other are not that of a young, puppy love but of a more mature and long lasting marital love. When Theseus is professing his love to Hippolyta he says, “Hippolyta, I wooed thee with my sword and won thy love doing thee injuries; but I will wed thee in another key,” (Bevington, 2014).…

    • 895 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Greek Mythology

    • 2673 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Cesar Quiroz 20 April 2015 Mr. Farson English 1A Greek Gods In today 's world, there is a vast amount of knowledge and information to learn from. Many subjects are important to incorporate, but none are as important as literature.…

    • 2673 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Improved Essays