Phaedra Lesson Plan

What evidence do the Nurse and Chorus observe in Phaedra's behavior to conclude that she is out of her mind? What does this say about how their society defines sanity or normalcy?

The Nurse and the Chorus observe that Phaedra has stopped eating and caring for herself. She has lost the shine from her eyes that is the birthright of all Helios's children and grandchildren. But the two do not claim that Phaedra has lost her mind until they see that she has scorned her traditional queenly robes in favor of plain garments and wild hair. They see Phaedra's abandonment of her status, as represented by the luxury of her dress, as the ultimate sign that she is in a poor mental...