The Diagnoses of Phaedra in the Play Hippolytus
The Diagnoses of Phaedra in the Play Hippolytus
Theatre History 111: Dr. Jennifer Wise
Student: Jessica
November 14, 2005
The intimate play Hippolytus by Euripides is a story of love, lust and loathing, where one woman 's feelings for a man lead to her self-destruction. Phaedra is the wife of Theseus, mother of his children, and stepmother to Hippolytus. Phaedra falls in love with Hippolytus, Theseus ' son. Her desire for him is improper not only in the past but in the present as well. In the play Phaedra becomes ill and commits suicide in order to protect her children 's honour. It is plausible that Phaedra is suffering from clinical depression as she displays many of the symptoms, causes and traits of this disease. Clinical depression has many variables; it depends on the people and their situations. Although clinical depression varies from person to person, there are a number of typical symptoms and causes. There are multiple reasons to suspect someone might suffer from clinical depression. Fluctuating eating habits are a key sign of depression, regardless of whether there is an increase or decrease in the consumption of food. "Many depressives eat very little. They report that, "Even the thought of food makes [them] ill." They may refuse food or just nibble even when favorite dishes are presented to them" (Depression, Symptoms of Depression, p. 19). This is an excellent example of one of Phaedra 's symptoms. In the play Phaedra refuses to eat, thereby starving herself.
"CH-L.: how feeble and wasted her body is.
NUR.: And why not? She hasn 't eaten for three days.
CH-L.: Because she has lost her mind? Or is she trying to die?
NUR.: Yes, to die. She starves herself to death." (Lines 254-57)
Another example of depression is communication, or a lack thereof. "The depressed woman, [ ] had moderate disability in communication with their spouses," The Depressed Woman, Marital and Sexual Relations, p. 91). This lack of communication contributes to the
Theatre History 111: Dr. Jennifer Wise
Student: Jessica
November 14, 2005
The intimate play Hippolytus by Euripides is a story of love, lust and loathing, where one woman 's feelings for a man lead to her self-destruction. Phaedra is the wife of Theseus, mother of his children, and stepmother to Hippolytus. Phaedra falls in love with Hippolytus, Theseus ' son. Her desire for him is improper not only in the past but in the present as well. In the play Phaedra becomes ill and commits suicide in order to protect her children 's honour. It is plausible that Phaedra is suffering from clinical depression as she displays many of the symptoms, causes and traits of this disease. Clinical depression has many variables; it depends on the people and their situations. Although clinical depression varies from person to person, there are a number of typical symptoms and causes. There are multiple reasons to suspect someone might suffer from clinical depression. Fluctuating eating habits are a key sign of depression, regardless of whether there is an increase or decrease in the consumption of food. "Many depressives eat very little. They report that, "Even the thought of food makes [them] ill." They may refuse food or just nibble even when favorite dishes are presented to them" (Depression, Symptoms of Depression, p. 19). This is an excellent example of one of Phaedra 's symptoms. In the play Phaedra refuses to eat, thereby starving herself.
"CH-L.: how feeble and wasted her body is.
NUR.: And why not? She hasn 't eaten for three days.
CH-L.: Because she has lost her mind? Or is she trying to die?
NUR.: Yes, to die. She starves herself to death." (Lines 254-57)
Another example of depression is communication, or a lack thereof. "The depressed woman, [ ] had moderate disability in communication with their spouses," The Depressed Woman, Marital and Sexual Relations, p. 91). This lack of communication contributes to the
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