To what extent do the Gods determine the events of Racine s Phedre
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To what extent do the Gods determine the events of Racine's Phedre?
The Greek Gods are obviously significant in Phedre, they cannot fail to be given the play's setting in Greek mythology. The pertinent question is to what extent are the Gods relevant to the drama and action of the play.
The central protagonist of the play, Phedre, is 'la fille de Minos et de Pasiphae' (line 36) and so is a direct descendant of the Gods herself. Indeed Thesee, and therefore Hippolyte, are descendants of Zeus, and Aricie has deities as ancestors. Thus Phedre is established not only as a monarch but also as a demi-god and this serves to accentuate the tragedy of her downfall. In Phedre's first speech of any length (269-316) she appears to blame Venus for her unnatural love: 'Je reconnus Venus et ses feux redoutables, / D'un sang qu'elle poursuit tourments inevitables.' (277-278). The reference she makes to 'sang' may be interpreted in two ways. In a broad sense it may be seen to be a reference to the susceptibility of humans, mere mortals, to love and passion and in this way we are all able to relate to, empathise with, or at the very least sympathise with Phedre's situation...