Nothing Is as It Seems: The Tragedy of the Implicit in Euripides’ Hippolytus

In this book, Hanna M. Roisman provides a uniquely comprehensive look at Euripides’ Hippolytus . Roisman begins with an examination of the ancient preference for the implict style, and suggests a possible reading of Euripides’ first treatment of the myth which would account for the Athenian audience’s reservations about his Hippolytus Veiled . She proceeds to analyze significant scenes in the play, including Hippolytus’ prayer to Artemis, Phaedra’s delirium, Phaedra’s confession speech, and the interactions between Theseus and Hippolytus. Concluding with a discussion of the meaning of the tragic in Hippolytus , Roisman questions the applicability in this case of the idea of the tragic flaw. Nothing Seems as It Is includes extensive comparisons of Euripides’ play with the Phaedra of Seneca. This is an important book for students and scholars of Greek tradegy, literature and rhetoric.