Sketch the character of Phaedra as a woman of high passion NU Or Why is Phaedra still a tragic character despite her questionable conduct Lucius Annaeus Seneca BCE CE wrote Phaedra around CE In this tragedy Phaedra stands as a woman of uncontrollable passion Her heart burns with forbidden love for Hippolytus Her struggle between desire and duty makes her one of Seneca s most tragic characters Victim of Uncontrolled Desire Phaedra becomes a victim of her own passionate love She says A malady feeds and grows within my heart Her love burns like fire from Mount Etna She knows her love is sinful but cannot resist it Her passion is both powerful and destructive Conflict Between Passion and Reason Phaedra s heart fights between lust and shame She cries I know thou sayest is true but passion forces me She wishes to control her feelings but fails Her reason