Phaedra As An Example Of Enlightenment Values - Essay Example

 Though this relationship would not have constituted as incest in a biological sense, it is nevertheless problematic on several counts. First, it violates her marriage to Theseus, however ill-tempered he might have behaved toward her.  Second, it speaks ill of Phaedra’s impulsivity and lack of moral fortitude. Third, it drags Hippolytus into a lust-driven imbroglio when he has already committed himself to a life of celibacy. The Enlightenment value of reason pits a challenge to emotional and impulsive actions, claiming that the latter tend to be based on distortions and loose sense impressions.

The fact that Phaedra's life gets into ever greater crisis since the moment she confesses her love of Hippolytus to her maid only underscores its flaw. In hindsight, her maid Oenone proved to be a wise counsel, as she advised Phaedra against acting on her impulses and romantic feelings. (Disch, 1989) In contrast, when we study Hippolytus' decisions and the thought processes behind them, we can see how his personality is much more grounded and less given to impulse and imprudence.  For example, Hippolytus is one of the rare characters in literature who take up a vow of celibacy and remains a virgin through the course of his life.

His virginity is borne of his piety.  He is always conscious of the moral imperatives he has set for himself that even when he learns of Phaedra's incestuous and adulterous desire for him, he commits himself and the Nurse to keep it a secret. As Hippolytus leaves the Nurse, “he insists that it is his piety that saves her, and that he will 'keep silent'.” (Chong-Gossard, 2004) Later, when Phaedra commits suicide after accusing Hippolytus of rape, he could easily have defended himself by exposing the facts, including that of Phaedra’s lust for him.

But his decision to not pursue this course is due to his grounding in rationality as it is of piety and oath. In this sense, Hippolytus can be seen as a model character whose life highlights values of the Enlightenment. In other words, though concepts like honor and piety are not addressed directly in the Enlightenment era intellectual discourse, they can be derived and associated with reason (a prime Enlightenment value). In this context, it is fair to say that Hippolytus sacrifices his own reputation and prospects in aligning