The Reconceptualization of (Step)Motherhood

This chapter discusses how Ovid has Phaedra provocatively engage with her mythological background and reframe her Euripidean counterpart. Phaedra is portrayed not only as a learned reader but also as a skilled poet, manipulating poetic categories and generic features throughout her epistle. The chapter reveals how Phaedra's narrative is marked by gender role reversals, which add complexity to her portrayal. The chapter uses feminist narratology, theories on visual pleasure, and the revisitation of the Lacanian notion of the law of the Father to analyze how Phaedra's reinterpretation of her (step)motherhood shapes a new understanding of gender and social dynamics. It highlights the innovative ways in which Phaedra's character challenges traditional roles and redefines her identity.