A retelling of a work helps you quickly familiarize yourself with the text, understand what it is about, and find out its plot. Below is a tragedy written in the 17th century by J. Racine - "Fedra". A summary of the chapters (in this case, the acts) is a more detailed version of the text.
Jean Baptiste Racine (December 21, 1639 - April 21, 1699) is a writer, one of the key figures of seventeenth-century French dramaturgy. Known for its tragedies.
“Fedra” is a tragedy in five acts, written in 1677. She is considered the best work of Racine.
For those who do not have time to read the full work, which was written by Jean Baptiste Racine ("Fedra"), a brief summary of the actions and phenomena below.
List of actors
- Fedra, daughter of the Cretan king Minos and his wife Pasiphae. Married to Theseus, but in love with his son Hippolytus.
- Hippolytus, son of Theseus and Queen of the Amazons of Antioope.
- Theseus, king of Athens, son of Aegeus. He was a companion of Hercules in his legendary exploits.
- Aricia, the Athenian princess.
- Enon, the nurse of Fedra, as well as her main adviser.
- Ismena, the confidant of Princess Aricia.
- Panopa, one of the servants of Fedra, acting as a messenger.
- Teraman, teacher of Hippolytus.
- The guard.
The action takes place in the city of Trezene.
Jean Racine, "Fedra": a summary. Conversation of Hippolytus with Theramen
So, the first action, the first phenomenon: the scene opens with a conversation between Hippolytus and Theramen. Hippolytus informs his mentor of his intention to leave Tresena. Hippolytus’s father, the Athenian king Theseus, is married to Fedra, the daughter of his former enemy Minos, king of Crete. Theseus went on a pilgrimage six months ago, and since then there has been no news from him, so Hippolytus decides to recover in his search.
Theraman is trying to convince Hippolytus. He believes Theseus does not want to be found. Hippolytus is adamant, because in addition to a sense of duty to his father, he also has his own personal reasons to leave the city: it seems to him that his stepmother Fedra hates him. Now Fedra is seriously ill with an unknown disease and does not pose a danger to Hippolytus.
It also turns out that Hippolytus is in love with Aricia, the daughter of the former ruler of Athens. Teraman is very happy for his student, but the whole problem is that Theseus forbade Arikia as the daughter of the king deposed by him to marry and have children.
Fedra says goodbye to life
Action one, phenomena 2-3: enon enters. She reports that the queen got out of bed and wants to be alone in the fresh air. Men leave, and Fedra weakened by the disease appears. From her monologue, it becomes clear that she wants to die. Fedra also refers to the sun, her mythical ancestor. According to her, she sees him for the last time.
Enona hears Fedra, she is terrified. Enona was the nurse of the queen and treats her as her own daughter. Now she reproaches the woman for not wanting to share the cause of the illness with her confidante. Enon reminds Fedre that, having died, the queen will leave two young sons to tear to pieces his enemy Hippolytus. She reacts violently to the mention of the name of her stepson, but still wants to die. Fedra talks about his guilt, which leaves her no other choice. What exactly is her fault, she hides, and this extremely offends Enon. Such is the payment to her, the nurse, for all these years of devotional service?
Finally, Fedra surrenders: in fact, she is in love with Hippolytus, in love ever since she first saw him. This is what gnaws at her, this is what pushes her to the grave. Fedra fought herself as best she could, even tried to appease the goddess of love Aphrodite, but nothing calmed her passion. She can only be outwardly rude to Hippolytus. She is afraid that one day she will cease to control herself and disgrace her name. Therefore, decides to die.
News of the death of Theseus
Action one, events of phenomena 4-5. The maid of Panop reports shocking news: Theseus is dead. In the city of excitement, because you need to choose a new ruler. Three candidates: Hippolytus, captured Aricia and the eldest son of Fedra.
Enona tells Fedre that the queen is now obligated to live, otherwise her son will perish. Hippolytus should inherit Tresen, while Athens rightfully belongs to the son of Fedra. Fedre should meet with Hippolytus to convince him to unite with her against Aricia. The queen and her nurse are not aware of the true relationship of Hippolytus to the captive princess.
Jean Racine, "Fedra": a summary. Aricia and her maid
We offer to read the events of the action of the second, the phenomena of the first. Aricia learns from her confidante Ismena that Theseus is no longer alive, and that the princess is no longer a prisoner from now on. Aricia is in no hurry to rejoice: she does not believe in Theseus' death. She does not understand why Hippolytus should treat her softer than his father. The change of a different opinion. She studied Hippolytus enough and came to the conclusion that he loves Aricia.
This is the best news for the princess of all. Aricia's life cannot be called happy: after all six of her brothers fell in battle with Theseus, she was left completely alone, surrounded by political enemies. She was forbidden to marry, which, however, did not bother her much. At least until the girl saw Hippolytus. Arikia fell in love with him not only for beauty, but also for his spiritual traits. Hippolytus for her - Theseus, devoid of flaws. The deceased Athenian king was sadly famous as a great hunter for women, while Hippolytus was blameless and seemed to despise love.
And yet Arachia is afraid that Ismen might be mistaken about the feelings of Hippolytus.
Hippolytus at Aricia
Consider phenomena 2-4. Hippolytus enters and confirms the words of Ismen: Theseus is dead, and Aricia is now free. In addition, Athens elects a new ruler. According to ancient law, Hippolytus cannot take the throne, since he was not born a Hellenic, Aricia has all the rights to do so. Hippolytus wants her to own the Athenian throne, while the man himself is ready to be content with Tresen. As for the eldest son of Fedra, then according to the plan of his stepson, he will become king of Crete. Theseus' son is going to convince the people of Athens that the princess should occupy the throne.
Aracia cannot believe in such a nobility: it seems to her that she is in a dream. Then Hippolytus confesses her love. At that moment Teraman enters. Fedra sent him for Hippolytus: the princess wants to talk in private with her stepson. He refuses to go to her, but Arakia manages to convince him. Hippolytus goes to meet with Fedra.
Recognition of Fedra
The events of the second action of phenomena 4-6 are as follows. Fedra is terribly worried before talking with Hippolytus - she forgot everything she wanted to say. Enona is trying to calm her mistress.
When Hippolytus arrives, Fedra tells him of her concern about the future of her eldest son. She is afraid that Hippolytus will avenge him for the oppression caused to him by his stepmother. Stepson insult such suspicions. He would not be able to go to such a baseness. Fedra admits that she wanted to expel Hippolytus and forbade her to pronounce his name in her presence, but she did not do so out of hatred. She says that he could repeat all of Theseus' exploits and compares himself with Ariadne, in the end Ippolitus begins to seem as if Fedra is taking him for Theseus. In the end, Fedra confesses his love to him and asks Hippolytus to kill her. With these words, she draws his sword.
Hippolytus hears Teraman approaching, and runs away in horror. He does not dare to tell his mentor that terrible secret that has just been revealed to him. Theraman, in turn, tells Hippolytus the latest news: the Athenians chose the son of Fedra as the new king. Also, according to rumors, Theseus is still alive and is in Epirus.
Conspiracy of Fedra and Aenona
Consider the third action, phenomena 1-3. Fedra does not want power, does not want to be the queen of Athens, because her thoughts are completely different. She does not lose hope for a reciprocal feeling. In her opinion, someone should sooner or later arouse love in Hippolytus. Fedra is ready to give him power over Athens.
Enon brings unexpected news: Theseus is alive and has already arrived in Tresen. Fedra is terrified, for Hippolytus can at any moment reveal her secret. She again begins to see death as the only salvation, and only fear for the fate of her sons stops her.
Enon comes to the rescue: the nurse promises to slander Hippolytus before Theseus, letting him know that it was his son who desired Fedra. The stepmother has no choice but to agree with the plan of Enona.
Theseus Returns
In phenomenon 4-6, Theseus, Hippolytus, and Theramen appear. Theseus wants to warmly embrace his wife, but she rejects him. Fedra tells her husband that she is not worthy of his love. With these words, she leaves, leaving her husband at a loss. He asks Hippolytus, but the prince does not betray Fedra's secret. He invites the father to ask his wife about this. In addition, Hippolytus declares his intention to leave Trenes. He does not want to live under the same roof with Fedra and asks his father to allow him to leave. Hippolytus reminds his father that Theseus had already killed many monsters and visited many places in his years, while the young man himself had not even caught up with his mother.
Theseus does not understand what is happening. Is that how they should meet their husbands and fathers? His family is clearly hiding something from him. He leaves in the hope of seeking clarification from Fedra.
The Exile of Hippolytus
In the fourth act, Enon slanders Hippolytus, and Theseus believes her. He saw how his son was suspiciously embarrassed in a conversation with him. Theseus in anger. The only thing he does not understand is why Fedra herself did not tell him the truth.
Theseus expels his son and turns to Poseidon himself with a request to punish Hippolytus. Poseidon promised to fulfill his first request, so he will not be able to refuse him.
Hippolytus is so struck by these accusations that he simply cannot find words. He only confesses his love to Aricia, but his father does not believe him.
Meanwhile, Fedra is tormented by reproaches of conscience. She comes to Theseus and asks her husband to relent to Hippolytus. In a conversation, her husband mentions that his son is allegedly in love with Aricia. Fedra, unlike her husband, believes in this and now feels offended. Once again, the queen decides to die.
Denouement
In the fifth act, Hippolytus decides to flee, but before that, marry Aricia. Immediately after his departure, Theseus suddenly came to Aricia. The king of Athens was trying to convince her that Hippolytus was a deceiver, and it was not worth listening to him. But Aricia so zealously defends his son that Theseus begins to doubt. Does he know the whole truth?
Theseus decides to interrogate Enona, but she is no longer alive: the woman drowned after Fedra drove her away. The queen herself is on the verge of madness. Then Theseus orders to return his son to him and calls to Poseidon so that he does not fulfill his request.
It is too late. Teraman reports that Hippolytus died in a battle with a monster who attacked him from the sea. Theseus can only blame Fedra. And she does not deny her guilt. She manages to tell her husband the whole truth before dying from the poison she had previously taken.
Struck by grief, Theseus swears to honor the memory of Hippolytus and continue to treat Aricia as his own daughter.
This is a summary. “Fedra” is one of the greatest plays that one day should be read in full.