Classical Views of Passion in Racine’s ‘Phedre’: Part Four

The sun is closely connected with sacrifice (Bataile 69). As we discussed in class, sacrifice is the act of something sacred, it is the change of an object from one stage of life to another. The greatest sacrifice a person can make is to give his life for the salvation of others. Moreover, a soldier can die for his motherhood and this will be a sacrifice. Monuments are eternal symbols of a sacrifice. They remind us about a sacrifice of a soldier, political leaders, etc. The supreme act of a sacrifice is presented in a religion in the form of Christ on the cross that means self-sacrifice.

Phaedre finds out that obstacles are too great for a fulfillment of her desire. Her love is unrequited and it becomes a burden for her. She is suffering greatly and cannot bear all the pain inside her. Therefore, she is asking to look at her and take pity. As we discussed in class, her feeling is a compulsion. Phaedre has no power to control her feelings and she tells Hippolytus about her passion. However, she is rejected and does not need to continue her living. She wants to die and asks Hippolytus to do it.

Racine puts Phaedre’s death at the end of the tragedy. Thus, she is guilty of Hippolytus death and is a victim simultaneously. Phaedre’s passion causes her great suffering and, thus, she has to die and stop all the pain that is inside her. Death is necessary as it is a sacrifice for keeping the supreme values – Phaedre’s honor. Her death is a sacrifice that is done for the good.

In conclusion, it would be relevant to cite the words of Georges Bataille:

‘It is Bataille's philosophy of excess and exuberance, his open acknowledgement of shame in the face of the extreme pornographic displays of sex and death, his sense of esoteric humor and history that make him so appropriate to this world we live in. Look around at all the weak-kneed "erotic philosophers" and judge who backs down from the abysmal truth of the matter… Here is Georges Bataille's relevance inside the subculture: with one foot in the flesh of the orgy and one in the bones of the grave, he speaks of the dark truths central to all human experience. And, most importantly, he embraces it, says YES to it, even though it would annihilate him. And beyond of all of his failings, this still stands. The corpse of Bataille never smelled sweeter’ (Bataille).