Hippolytus; The Bacchae

Name: Hippolytus; The Bacchae
Author: Euripides

By Euripides

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About This Book

Two tragedies by the same poet juxtapose human stubbornness and divine vengeance. In the first, a youth devoted to a virgin huntress goddess rejects the power of love, provoking the love-goddess to instigate a fatal passion in his stepmother, whose subsequent accusation leads the youth to a tragic death and a father's remorse. In the second, a god returns to assert his cult, provoking a king's refusal and the god's orchestration of female frenzy; the king is lured to his destruction by his own relatives and the community suffers a terrible revelation. Both plays examine the clash between order and ecstatic release, pride and piety, and the moral ambiguity of divine punishment.

About the Author

Euripides

Euripides was a prominent ancient Greek playwright, known for his innovative approach to tragedy and his exploration of complex human emotions. Active during the 5th century BCE, he is credited with introducing strong female characters and challenging traditional societal norms in his works. His notable plays include "Medea," which delves into themes of revenge and betrayal, and "The Bacchae," which examines the duality of human nature and the consequences of unchecked passion. Euripides' contributions to literature have had a lasting impact on drama and continue to resonate in contemporary storytelling.