Hippolytus

Main Characters and Their Development

• Hippolytus - the son of Theseus and the Amazon queen Antiope (or Hippolyta). He is known for his devotion to Artemis and chastity, which brings him into conflict with Aphrodite. Hippolytus rejects love and passion, leading to his tragic fate. Aphrodite punishes him by instilling a mad love for him in his stepmother Phaedra. Hippolytus remains true to his principles until the end, but his innocence does not save him from death.
• Phaedra - the wife of Theseus and stepmother of Hippolytus. She becomes a victim of Aphrodite's wrath, who instills in her a mad love for Hippolytus. Phaedra struggles with this feeling but eventually confesses her love to her nurse. When Hippolytus rejects her, Phaedra, to preserve her honor, accuses him of attempted violence and ends her life by suicide.
• Theseus - the king of Athens, husband of Phaedra, and father of Hippolytus. He believes Phaedra's false accusations and curses his son, leading to tragic consequences. Theseus realizes his mistake only after Hippolytus's death, when Artemis reveals the truth to him.
• Aphrodite - the goddess of love, who plays a key role in the tragedy. She takes revenge on Hippolytus for his disregard for love and passion by instilling a mad love for him in Phaedra. Aphrodite embodies the destructive power of unrequited love and passion.
• Artemis - the goddess of the hunt and chastity, the protector of Hippolytus. She appears at the end of the play to reveal the truth about Hippolytus's innocence and to comfort him before his death. Artemis symbolizes purity and justice.