tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389932094231362545.post8896123703691139399..comments2023-09-22T02:55:14.540-07:00Comments on APPOSITIONS: Studies in Renaissance / Early Modern Literature & Culture: Shelly Jansen: “Kierkegaardian Heroism”whowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09061175252438502627noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389932094231362545.post-29788072009571836712011-07-15T14:08:16.172-07:002011-07-15T14:08:16.172-07:00It is very interesting to read Shelly Jansen's...It is very interesting to read Shelly Jansen's analysis of Euripides' Hippolytus and Racine's Phèdre in the light of the theories of proto-existentialist Kierkegaard.<br />According to my reading and understanding - as a non-scholar - Hippolytus is the central character and Phaedra is his victim in the play of Euripides. In Racine, on the contrary, Phèdre is the major character and Hippolite is her victim. The different titles reflect very well this basic difference. <br />From the very beginning, Euripides makes it clear that Hippolytus' choice (or free will) not to obey society's rule (i.e to honour Aphrodite) is the origin of the tragedy. Racine, however, dismisses fully this characterial choice of Hippolyte and in fact introduces a 'romantic' element in the story: his forbidden love for Aricia. I think this changes dramatically the tragedy, puts all the weight on Phèdre and thus transforms her heroicism.<br />I do not find any reference to these different views between Euripides and Racine in the above essay by Jansen.K. Benderhttp://sites.google.com/site/venusiconography/noreply@blogger.com