Phaedra's anguish is first experienced by her in her own mind. Her sense of morality is so highly developed that, even before the drama begins, before she has acted, prior to her committing symbolic incest with her step-son Hippolytus, she is guilty. In her desire to absolve herself, she clings to the notion that as long as the crime lies buried within her, as long as her love for Hippolytus remains an abstract notion, no …showed first 75 words of 1075 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1075 total…no surprise. Through her intervention, Phaedra succeeds in coming to grips with the higher conscience within her, forcing herself thereby to unite the split facets of her personality, through sacrifice of herself.         When Phaedra finally confesses the truth to Theseus, she gives dignity to her negative aspects. With her death she enters the underworld, 'the earthly womb,' as it was looked upon by the ancients, preparing the way for her eventual transformation and redemption.