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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
Death by suicide and its context; classical tragedy format
Language
None
Classical French verse; elevated and clean
Sexual Content
Barely any
Incestuous desire is the central theme; not depicted explicitly but thematically central
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Consuming passion, guilt, and the psychological horror of desires one cannot suppress
What this book is about
Racine's 1677 tragedy follows Phèdre, wife of the Athenian king Thésée, who has harbored an incestuous passion for her stepson Hippolyte. When Thésée is believed dead, Phèdre's confession unleashes a catastrophic chain of events. One of the masterpieces of French classical theater, shaped by Racine's strict adherence to Greek tragedy's unities.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Incestuous passion (thematic, not depicted)
Suicide
Classical tragedy themes
Reader Verification
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