What Is Hippolytus Chaste

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Euripides depicts erotic love as a consuming and destructive force. How Hippolytus manages to remain chaste generates represents his resilience from succumbing to eroticism. Young women devote themselves to Hippolytus due to his intense commitment to chastity and devotion to Artemis, his scorn towards Aphrodite, and the acceptance of his fate. Evidence throughout the play displays why Hippolytus is worthy of esteem. By devoting themselves to Hippolytus, young unmarried women avoid the dangers of erotic love. Described by Phaedra, her desire for Hippolytus “conquers [her]” causing her to consider suicide as a viable option (Hipp. 728–731).His continence represents his resilience from associating himself with lustful desires. According to the Chorus, the power of erotic love is consuming and can potentially lead to malevolence (Hipp. 525−529). Instead of succumbing to corrupted lustful desires, young women devote themselves to Hippolytus before marriage. By offering Hippolytus locks of their hair, young women ritualistically offer their virginities to him to compensate for Aphrodite’s vengeance. Moreover, Hippolytus claims that “[he] is pure” (Hipp. 102) indicating his dedication to a …show more content…

During the prologue of the play, Aphrodite explains that she wants to punish Hippolytus because he refuses to worship “a god of nocturnal prowess” (Hipp. 106). Since he is so immersed in the life of celibacy and chastity, he does not want to worship other gods who opposes his views. His devotion to a chaste life (and hunt) causes Artemis grows a liking toward Hippolytus claiming that he is her “best friend among men” (Hipp. 1332). In a way, Hippolytus embodies Artemis’ character causing Artemis to avenge his death so he would not be forgotten. Hippolytus and Artemis share a special bond so she wants to return that favour of devotion to

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