Subject: # 14227 Teatro Inglés Siglos XIX y XX Grupo A

Author: Sarah Kane

Play: Phaedra’s Love

Subtitle: N/A

Publisher: N/A

This play was first performed in 1996 at the Gate Theatre, London.

The main character, Hippolytus, could be described as the person with many of the problems that exist in present life, but all put in the same person and taken to an extreme point. Addiction to sex, no care about others’ feelings, no self-esteem nor concern for hygiene, but in spite of all this, he served as a mirror for others to see their own inner problems, especially those problems related with sex. This is seen in Phaedra and her obsession with him, in the little importance Strophe and the doctor give to the sex that they advise her to have sex with him to forget him and in the hypocrisy of the priest that was considering a sin what Hippolytus had done and then having sex with him.

“Priest: (performs oral sex on Hippolytus)

Hippolytus: Leave that to you.

(He comes.

He rests his hand on top of the Priest’s head)

Go.

Confess.

Before you burn.”(91)

The other two important characters, although not as important as Hippolytus is, are Strophe and Phaedra, daughter and mother. They are the two faces of the same coin, both love them but Strophe denies it and Phaedra doesn’t. We can see Strophe’s love towards Hippolytus, despite her denying it, in this part of the conversation they have:

“Strophe: For me. Deny it.

Hippolytus: No

Strophe: You’re not a rapist. I can’t believe that.

(...) Strophe: I’ll help you hide.”(86)

The plot turns around this boy, Hippolytus, and the reactions his behaviour causes to everyone. Phaedra, his stepmother, has an intercourse with him and dies because he infects her. Then, he is arrested and the people wants his death, which will obtain eventually. Theseus, his father, and Strophe are hidden among the crowd which wants to kill him.In the end, the crows leaves and Hippolytus, Theseus and Strophe are dead.

The place where the play is performed is important for what it represents: it’s where they live, a palace, meaning they are part of the royalty and all their actions have major importance and repercussions on the nation.