Hippolytos

In most versions of the Hippolytos myth, Phaidra is depicted as an utterly debauched character, a woman reduced to shamelessness by the power of Aphrodite. In Euripides' Hippolytos, however--informed by the playwright's moral and religious fascination--we find a Phaidra resisting the goddess of love with all her strength, though in the end unsuccessfully. Phaidra becomes a tragic foil for Hippolytos, making his superhuman virtue at once believable and understandable. Robert Bagg's profound translation of this Euripidean masterpiece is idiomatic, natural, and intensely lyrical, designed not only to be read but performed. Unlike most versions, Bagg's Hippolytos sustains the dramatic tome and dynamics to the very end--even after Phaidra's death--and the moving scenes between Hippolytos and Theseus, and later Hippolytos' death-scene with Artemis, receive here unprecedented plausibility and power.

In most versions of the Hippolytos myth, Phaidra is depicted as an utterly debauched character, a woman reduced to shamelessness by the power of Aphrodite. In Euripides' Hippolytos, however-informed by the playwright's moral and religious fascination-we find a Phaidra resisting the goddess of love with all her strength, though in the end unsuccessfully. Phaidra becomes a tragic foil for Hippolytos, making his superhuman virtue at once believable and understandable. Robert Bagg's profound translation of this Euripidean masterpiece is idiomatic, natural, and intensely lyrical, designed not only to be read but performed. Unlike most versions, Bagg's Hippolytos sustains the dramatic tome and dynamics to the very end-even after Phaidra's death-and the moving scenes between Hippolytos and Theseus, and later Hippolytos' death-scene with Artemis, receive here unprecedented plausibility and power.

Hvad sker der, når en stedmor forelsker sig i sin stedsøn? Kan følelserne få frit løb, eller må de undertrykkes? Kan en familie overhovedet overleve et sådant tabubrud? Kan stedmoren? Kan sønnen? Hippolytos har det hele med: forelskelsen, forbitrelsen, fortrydelsen og måske en forsoning. Euripides’ tragedie Hippolytos blev opført en forårsdag i 428 f.v.t., men dens klare beskrivelse af voldsomme følelser og modstridende idealer er helt moderne og evigt aktuelle, for hvor langt må vi lade os styre af kærlighed, af skam, af hævn? Hippolytos har et langt efterliv gennem billedkunst, skuespil, opera og film, men ikke desto mindre har tragedien stået i skyggen af Euripides’ Medea. Det er med denne oversættelse håbet, at Hippolytos vil blive genlæst med fornyet interesse og ikke mindst med fornøjelse og gru. Bogen er oversat og introduceret af Marcel Lysgaard Lech.