Extract
[...] Phaedra, Excerpt - Jean Racine (1677) Part I - How does Phaedra emphasize her impotence? First, from verse 279 to 280, Phaedra emphasizes her impotence in diverting her feelings for Hippolyte by using the verb 'believe' in the simple past and emphasizing that she thought she could divert them. In fact, the verb 'believe' highlights an illusion, and the truth is quite different. Furthermore, she emphasizes having made vows to divert them. The idea of vows implies a certain impotence, given that we entrust our wishes to these vows and make a kind of request. [...]
[...] - How does Phaedra mark the horror of her crime in this passage? The horror of Phaedra's crime is marked by the use of the lexical field of horror with words such as 'terror' (line 307) or 'horror' (line 308). Furthermore, we note that the lexical field of murder with words such as 'wound, prey, crime, dying'. Finally, the reference to the black flame at the end of the passage shows the horror of the crime. This image sets in opposition the common image we have of a flame as enlightening, warm, comforting with that of a flame of horror, described here as 'black', the color of sadness, despair and death. [...]
[...] The use of these tenses marks a change in the situation compared to the present situation. They can also have a retrospective aspect in which Phaedra takes stock of the situation and her actions already accomplished compared to her past wishes. - Study the marks of fate with which Phaedra thinks she is overwhelmed We note the fatality in this passage through the fact that she recounts all her actions to have driven Hippolyte away, in vain for example. Line 303 have seen the enemy that I had driven away'. [...]
[...] In verses 283-284, Phaedra's impotence is highlighted by the expression 'incurable love'. The fact that her love is incurable implies that she cannot cure it and that she suffers from it. She emphasizes that even remedies are powerless, which consequently renders her powerless. Moreover, as in the preceding verses, she refers to religious acts that have no effect on her feelings, which increases her impotence. At the next line she even notes 'to implore the name of the goddess'. This therefore reinforces Phaedra's desire to get rid of her feelings for Hippolyte, but it also highlights her impotence because she relies on the goddess of love to help her. [...]
[...] Phaedra does everything in her power to conquer her passion and love for Hippolyte, she even speaks of 'rebellion against herself'. She even uses words from the lexical field of combat, war to reinforce the idea that she is seeking to conquer her passion: 'rebel', 'persecute', 'banish the enemy'. For this, Phaedra's goal is to distance Hippolyte from her, that is, to separate him from his father and his home (lines 295-296). - How does Phaedra mark the distance from herself? [...]
