Hippolytus
The play by the Greek playwright Euripides is one which
explores classical Greek religion. Throughout the play, the influence of
the gods on the actions of the characters is evident, especially when
Aphrodite affects the actions of Phaedra. Also central to the plot is the
god vs. god interactions between Artemis and Aphrodite. This essay will
show how the actions of Hippolytus and Phaedra relate to the gods, what the
characters expect from the gods, how the gods treat the humans, and
whether or not the gods gain anything from making the humans suffer.
The Greek gods, since they are anthropomorphic, have many of the
same characteristics as humans. One characteristic of the gods which ...
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do have
restrictions; in this case, it shows the gods cannot interfere with each
other. The gods are sometimes evil and revengeful, though, as can be seen
by what Artemis has to say about Aphrodite: "I'll wait till she loves a
mortal next time, and with this hand - with these unerring arrows I'll
punish him. "
The relationship of mankind and the gods also needs to be discussed.
This relationship seems to be a sort of give-and-take relationship, in
part. The Greeks believed that if they gave to the gods, through prayer
and sacrifices, that the gods would help them out. This is especially true
of Hippolytus and his almost excessive worship of Artemis. Also, Theseus
praying to his father Poseidon is another example of this, only Theseus
actually gets what he prays for. Just because mankind worshipped the gods,
however did not mean that the gods had any sort of obligation to help out
the humans. Artemis did nothing to protect Hippolytus from being killed.
But not all ...
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his father. At this point, he prays to the gods that he be killed in
exile if he is guilty of the death of Phaedra. It is also possible he may
be expecting Artemis to help him out, though she does nothing until he is
on the verge of death.
The characters however, do worry about how the gods react to them
at times. Hippolytus does not seem to concern himself much with how
Aphrodite reacts to his behavior. At the beginning of the play, the old
man questions Hippolytus' decision not to worship Aphrodite, but
Hippolytus really does not worry that he may be making Aphrodite angry.
He does care how Artemis reacts, however, because he is hoping to keep her
happy so that she may help him ...
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Hippolytus. (2006, April 30). Retrieved April 26, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hippolytus/45225
"Hippolytus." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 30 Apr. 2006. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hippolytus/45225>
"Hippolytus." Essayworld.com. April 30, 2006. Accessed April 26, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hippolytus/45225.
"Hippolytus." Essayworld.com. April 30, 2006. Accessed April 26, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hippolytus/45225.
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