Hippolytus; The Bacchae

Euripides, a famous Athenian playwright, wrote two tragedies that explored the consequences of defying the divine will: Hippolytus and The Bacchae.

Hippolytus

• Plot: Hippolytus, the son of Theseus (king of Athens) and Hippolyta (an Amazon queen), devotes himself to the goddess Artemis, the virgin huntress, and rejects the pleasures of love. Phaedra, Theseus's second wife, falls in love with Hippolytus but is rebuffed. A vengeful nurse exposes a false accusation of Phaedra's love for Hippolytus to Theseus. Theseus curses his son, leading to Hippolytus's death. In the end, the truth is revealed, but the tragedy is complete.

• Themes:

  • Conflict between duty and desire
  • The destructive power of pride and jealousy
  • The wrath of the gods
  • The importance of honoring commitments

The Bacchae

• Plot: King Pentheus of Thebes refuses to acknowledge the god Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. Dionysus, disguised as a human, arrives in Thebes and drives the women of the city mad, leading them to the mountains to participate in his ecstatic religious rites. Pentheus attempts to stop the women and capture Dionysus, but is ultimately tricked and torn apart by the frenzied women, led by his own mother.

• Themes:

  • The power and dangers of religious ecstasy
  • The importance of acknowledging the divine
  • The destructive nature of human hubris (excessive pride)
  • The power of the natural world and untamed emotions

Comparisons and Contrasts:

• Both plays feature characters who defy divine will: Hippolytus by rejecting Aphrodite (goddess of love) and Pentheus by refusing to acknowledge Dionysus.
• Both plays explore the consequences of defying the gods, leading to tragic outcomes.
• Hippolytus focuses on the individual's internal conflicts, while The Bacchae depicts the societal consequences of religious denial.
• Hippolytus is a more intimate tragedy, while The Bacchae is a more dramatic and violent spectacle.

Overall, Hippolytus and The Bacchae offer a powerful exploration of the human condition in relation to the divine. By portraying the dangers of defying the gods and the destructive potential of unchecked emotions, these plays continue to resonate with audiences today.