Euripides: Hippolytus

by Sophie Mills

Hippolytus is generally acknowledged to be one of Euripides' finest tragedies, for the construction of its plot, its use of language and its memorable characterisations of Phaedra and Hippolytus. Furthermore, it asks serious and disturbing questions about the influence of divinity on human lives. Sophie Mills considers these and many other themes in detail, setting the play in its mythological, cultural and historical contexts. She also includes discussions of major trends in interpretations of the play and of subsequent adaptations of the Hippolytus story, from Seneca to Mary Renault and beyond.

Genres: Classics

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Sophie Mills is Professor of Classics at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she has taught for 25 years. She was educated at Oxford University and arrived at UNC Asheville in 1994. Since then, she has written four books and many articles on Greek literature (though briefly deviated into children's literature with her article "Pig in the Middle") but also spends significant time in the classroom, teaching everything from beginners' Latin to Greek Prose Composition. A particular interest of hers could be called applied Ancient Greek: creating with her students performance translations of tragedies geared to non-specialist audiences. So far we have versions of the Oresteia (abridged, 2012), Philoctetes (2014), Bacchae (2016), Medea (2017) and Antigone (2020), all available on request from her. When not teaching or writing, she is a home-brewer, second alto, and cat and pig lover. She lives with her spouse Amy Joy Lanou in Asheville, NC and welcomes correspondence (smills@unca.edu).

Reviews

[r · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Phaedra is cursed by Aphrodite to be attracted to her celibate stepson, (Hippolytus,) she kills herself. Hippolytus' conversation with his father, (Theseus,) goes as follows:

Theseus: "She killed herself because you raped her!"
Hippolytus: "Why would I do that? I HATE women!"

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I remember it being. But I literally don't like any characters??? Except Phaedra??? gone too soon girlie :( fuck Hippolytus' misogynistic ass.

[Richard Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you maybe want to read this, don't be discouraged from that. It's a pretty fast, fairly entertaining read. But it's not super fun is all.

The gods are such jerks. Hippolytus loves hunting, so he loves Artemis way more than Aphrodite. He's a bit negative towards women, so that's on him, but his attitude annoys Aphrodite, making her ruin his life. She makes his stepmother, Phaedra, fall in love with him. She lets a servant in on her shameful secret, and the servant tries to get Hippolytus to oblige her. He says no way. Phaedra is so ashamed she hangs herself, but writes a note blaming her stepson, alleging an assault that never happened.

His dad, Theseus, believes her lie and banishes his son, cursing him at the same time. (He had a curse ready because his dad was Poseidon, who granted him three such curses.) Theseus crashes his chariot, is brought home dying, and now, finally, Artemis comes to tell Theseus that he shouldn't have believed his wife's note. He apologizes to his son before he dies, and vows to get revenge on anyone Aphrodite loves.

A cheery crowd-pleaser. :)

So the gods stir up trouble and the people suffer. I don't enjoy that kind of story a bunch, tbh. But I still kind of liked it, because it's at least interesting in a "Wow! This is what they believed" kinda way.

3 stars.

[Paul Howlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to Greek tragedy and the rest of the series...

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hippolytus is kind of annoying …?

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

:(