Phaedra and Enlightenment values Essay Sample

The Enlightenment period was began shortly after the Edict of Nantes in 1685 and lasted through the eighteenth century. This was an “intellectual movement” and the authors of this period disapproved of faith and political relations ruled by tyranny. “ The motion would oppugn about every facet of societal and political life in Europe” ( Hunt. 522 ) . The authors and bookmans that had enlightened positions were those who believed that all people are able to use ground or critical thought to all issues that may originate in their lives. The states that were affected most by the Atlantic system were participants in the enlightenment motion. such as: Britain. France and the Dutch Republic ( Hunt. 522 ) . Jean Racine is the Author of a calamity named Phaedra. The drama “Phaedra” has many illustrations of Enlightenment values in it. The drama trades with many human emotions such as ; passion. love and I do believe that there is a unsafe degree to all these emotions such as the drama suggests. Human emotion can be really complex. as it is in this drama.

Phaedra is filled with so much heartache from holding lubricious feelings for her stepson Hippolytus. He on the other manus is filled with much heartache and anxiousness every bit good from the secret that he holds cognizing that his stepmother Phaedra has deep feelings of love for him. It seems really heavy on both of their Black Marias to keep on to a secret such as this. Phaedra is clearly really much in love with Hippolytus and she lets this consume her head organic structure and psyche. She goes every bit far as stating her hubby. Theseus the King. that she was raped by Hippolytus. Phaedra is out of control at that point and the emotions that she feels for her stepson have made her irrational and do hapless determinations. Her prevarications and fraudulences have tarnished many relationships in this narrative. The emotions that Phaedra has for Hippolytus are utmost. and I think that the events that occurred therefore far show that emotions can be really unsafe if they spin out of control. On the other manus. emotions don’t have to be this unsafe most normal people do non hold relationships with this much convulsion and being in love with person is a joyous feeling. Feelingss and emotions are an of import portion of human life and are what can add felicity and fulfilment in the lives of many. Human emotions are something that each and everyone of us possess.

The key is non to allow your emotions drive you to do injury to yourself or others. Emotions can be really unsafe if they are non kept under control. One could inquire if emotions could be a mark of failing. disease. deficiency of control. or lack ground. I think that this drama depicts Phaedra’s emotions to demo a mark of failing because she loved so passionately that it clouded her judgement and she lost control of her emotions. This deficiency of control caused her to ache everyone around her. even herself. For a individual like her emotions can be really unsafe and toxic. Phaedra was in a really dark topographic point in her life. her weakness and her wretchedness consumed her and showed great marks of failing. Her irrational behaviour and feelings lead to the decease of Hippolytus and which drove her to perpetrate self-destruction. She changed the lives of everyone around her because of her deficiency of ground.

Human existences are emotional animals and passion. love and other feelings of emotion are a portion of our brand up. These feelings do non hold to take to negativeness. these feelings can be a joyous portion of life if kept under control. The fact that Phaedra was non able to command her sexual and emotional feelings for her stepson Hippolytus it lead to the calamity in this drama. She failed to command her emotions and this lead to the decease of Hippolytus. a male parent losing his boy ( Theseus ) . Aricia losing the love of her life and Phaedra perpetrating suicide. This all could hold been avoided if Phaedra was in better control of her emotions. The drama brings about consciousness of holding ethical motives. pureness and keeping ourselves accountable for doing the right picks. I think for these grounds the drama is an illustration of enlightenment values.

Citations:

Hunt. Lynn. First Hunt. et Al. The Making Of The West. Peopless And Cultures. A Concise History. 3rd erectile dysfunction. Boston. NY. : Bedford/st Martins. 2010. Print. Lawall. Sarah. The Norton Anthology Of Western Literature: The Enlightenment Through The Twentieth Century. 8th. 2. New York: W W Norton. 2006. Print.