Hippolytus

Roles

• Aphrodite - Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Female

About this piece

Aphrodite tells the audience her plan of revenge on Hippolytus

Summary

Hyppolitus is the illegitimate son of Theseus, the mythical founder-king of Athens, who during the play is in exile in the city of Troezen for having killed another king and his sons. The play centers on Phaedra's (Hippolytus' stepmother) love for her stepson which ultimately leads her to humiliation and suicide. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, inspires Phaedra's mad love as a revenge on Hippolytus for honoring Artemis instead of her. Theseus, thinking that Hippolytus is responsible for his wife's death, punishes him and eventually he is killed. In the end Artemis tells Theseus the truth and Hippolytus forgives his father before he dies. This is the introductory monologue by the goddess Aphrodite. She tells the audience she is planning revenge on Hippolytus for not loving her and honoring instead Artemis. She tells the audience how she plans to make Phaedra fall in love with her stepson and eventually making his own dad kill him for revenge.

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