In Hippolytus, free will is best defined as the power to choose your own course of action. Euripides explores a portion of human autonomy where we “know what’s good and recognize it”(Euripides 2001: 380) yet struggle to “accomplish it”(Euripides 2001: 381). That is to say, a struggle between different courses of action takes place and leads to a conflicted free will. Therefore, Euripides’ quotes can help shape the argument that free will, while strained by the actions of a god, is still functional. This paper will focus on how the motifs of arrogance and internal conflict establish an explanation for where responsibility for an action lies. Arrogance is a critical concept to analyze because it depicts selfish behavior that creates trouble for
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Euripides begins to solidify this argument during the initial part of the play. Aphrodite only engages with the real world once Hippolytus condemns the goddess of love and tells his servants to no longer mention her name. Hippolytus informs his servant that he does not like Aphrodite for she is part of “the gods who are worshipped at night”(Euripides 2001: 106). Since he expresses his opinion, which stems from his belief in being “pure”(Euripides 2001: 102), it is safe to assume his statement came from a place in his mind where he had full control. Euripides, however, structures the play in order to place a false belief in the mind of the reader. The play begins with Aphrodite’s soliloquy where she attributes her intervention to “the wrongs”(Euripides 2001: 22) Hippolytus has done to her. Since her soliloquy prefaces the storyline, readers might assume it is the will of the gods that jump-starts the rest of the story and fail to realize Hippolytus’ statement is the catalyst to all future events. This argument is furthered as Phaedra considers how to handle her dilemma of hopelessly being in love with Hippolytus. While Phaedra’s mind has already been manipulated by Aphrodite, her thought process reveals she had autonomy over her decision to kill herself. As the Nurse continues to help Phaedra, Phaedra orders the Nurse to leave so that she can …show more content…
When Hippolytus decides to ridicule Aphrodite, he initiates a chain of events that results in two characters enduring internal struggles: the Nurse and Phaedra. As the Nurse learns Phaedra has fallen in love with Hippolytus, she proposes “some drug for this sickness will appear”(Euripides 2001: 478). But, the Nurse’s words are “ambiguous”(Halleran 2001: 478) and her drug metaphor suggests Phaedra should “drive away her passion or induce passion…”(478). That footnote reveals the Nurse is uncertain about advising Phaedra on how she should proceed. Ultimately, the Nurse voices Phaedra’s desire to Hippolytus who rejects his step-mother. As a result of the Nurses internal struggle, Phaedra is placed in a quandary and experiences inner-conflict too. Now, Phaedra feels that she must ensure “her children’s good name and avoiding disgrace”(Halleran 2001: 717-721). Phaedra’s desire to maintain her image results in her committing suicide and setting off the final chain in a series of events. When Theseus discovers his wife’s tablet that claims Hippolytus had raped her, he is placed in the dilemma of believing his wife or believing his son. Theseus’ does not take much time to contemplate his internal struggle, asking Poseidon to “make an end of my son”(Euripides 2001: 889) before he even spoke to Hippolytus. This string of poor choices prove that internal
Euripides begins to solidify this argument during the initial part of the play. Aphrodite only engages with the real world once Hippolytus condemns the goddess of love and tells his servants to no longer mention her name. Hippolytus informs his servant that he does not like Aphrodite for she is part of “the gods who are worshipped at night”(Euripides 2001: 106). Since he expresses his opinion, which stems from his belief in being “pure”(Euripides 2001: 102), it is safe to assume his statement came from a place in his mind where he had full control. Euripides, however, structures the play in order to place a false belief in the mind of the reader. The play begins with Aphrodite’s soliloquy where she attributes her intervention to “the wrongs”(Euripides 2001: 22) Hippolytus has done to her. Since her soliloquy prefaces the storyline, readers might assume it is the will of the gods that jump-starts the rest of the story and fail to realize Hippolytus’ statement is the catalyst to all future events. This argument is furthered as Phaedra considers how to handle her dilemma of hopelessly being in love with Hippolytus. While Phaedra’s mind has already been manipulated by Aphrodite, her thought process reveals she had autonomy over her decision to kill herself. As the Nurse continues to help Phaedra, Phaedra orders the Nurse to leave so that she can …show more content…
When Hippolytus decides to ridicule Aphrodite, he initiates a chain of events that results in two characters enduring internal struggles: the Nurse and Phaedra. As the Nurse learns Phaedra has fallen in love with Hippolytus, she proposes “some drug for this sickness will appear”(Euripides 2001: 478). But, the Nurse’s words are “ambiguous”(Halleran 2001: 478) and her drug metaphor suggests Phaedra should “drive away her passion or induce passion…”(478). That footnote reveals the Nurse is uncertain about advising Phaedra on how she should proceed. Ultimately, the Nurse voices Phaedra’s desire to Hippolytus who rejects his step-mother. As a result of the Nurses internal struggle, Phaedra is placed in a quandary and experiences inner-conflict too. Now, Phaedra feels that she must ensure “her children’s good name and avoiding disgrace”(Halleran 2001: 717-721). Phaedra’s desire to maintain her image results in her committing suicide and setting off the final chain in a series of events. When Theseus discovers his wife’s tablet that claims Hippolytus had raped her, he is placed in the dilemma of believing his wife or believing his son. Theseus’ does not take much time to contemplate his internal struggle, asking Poseidon to “make an end of my son”(Euripides 2001: 889) before he even spoke to Hippolytus. This string of poor choices prove that internal