Jean Racine was great writer of French classical tragedy. He used subjects derived from Greek and Roman literature to create most of his masterpieces. One of those masterpieces, Phaedra, has as its theme, passion. Passion is an intense emotion-compelling actions and one that is deeply stirring or ungovernable. In this play, the lead character, Phaedra demonstrates the depths of her passion over reason when she decides to renew her thirst for love when she reveals a tormenting secret, and when she rejects the lie her life had become.
             By deciding to live, Phaedra renews her raging thirst for love. She reasoned that life at this point might have some purpose. "So be it. By your advice I shall be led;I'll live, if I can come back from the dead,and if my mother-love still has the power/to rouse my weakened spirits in this hour." (Act I, scene 5, lines 27-30) Phaedra tormented herself for many years by a secret that caused her much grief. She had willed her spirit to cease in order to keep this secret safe. The news of her husband's death gave her a new course. She had to secure the throne for her son, as it was now his right by law. She was also free of the traditional bonds of marriage and could now seek a passion she no longer needed to hate. With this, she went in search of her passion. She requested an audience with Hippolytus on the ruse of discussing her son. She hoped Hippolytus bore no contempt toward her son because of her actions against Hippolytus when she first became queen.
             Phaedra then felt reasonably free to reveal her secret, her love of Hipploytus, and in revealing her secret, she learned of another. She hoped the torment in her life could now be over. "Ah, cruel Prince, 'twas no mistake.You understood; my words were all to plain.Behold then Phaedra as she is, insane With love for you." (Act II, Scene 5, Line 90-93) Phaedra had fallen hopelessly in love with her s...