Review of PHAEDRA by Laura Shepperson (New Release)

 2.5 Stars

This is a feminist retelling of the Greek myth of Phaedra.  The daughter of King Minos and the sister of Ariadne and the Minotaur, she becomes the wife of Theseus and is taken to Athens from her home in Crete.  She becomes pregnant after being raped by her stepson Hippolytus and insists he be put on trial. 

The novel is structured like a Greek tragedy complete with three acts and a Chorus.  In this case the Chorus consists of women who have been misused and abused by men.  These are women who have no voice but gather at night to commiserate and warn others.  Of course, the Chorus also underscores theme.  At one point, the women chant, “It happened to me.  And me.  And me.  Me, too” so the reference to the #MeToo movement is obvious. 

The author admits that she re-arranged and re-invented Phaedra’s story.  In the Greek myth, Phaedra tries to seduce her stepson, and when he repulses her advances, she accuses him of raping her.  In this version, Hippolytus does rape his stepmother.  The author’s point is that “history is written by men” so women’s truths are hidden.  Here Phaedra is shown not to be the temptress the men accuse her of being but a victim of brutal sexual assault.  Even Medea makes an appearance, and though she admits to killing her children, she insists, “Everyone always focused on the killing of the children.  No one ever asked why.”  Her explanation to Phaedra suggests she acted out of love, not revenge, but men have the power and shape narratives to portray themselves as heroes and women as seductresses and sorceresses:  “any man can throw words up into the air, and it is women who must pay when those words land.”

The author wants to emphasize the sexual abuse women have suffered and how they have been silenced.  Women in mythology, like Phaedra and Medea, have been maligned when in fact they should be more correctly identified as heroines.  The problem is that the author’s approach is very heavy-handed.  Over and over again, the plight and powerlessness of women and men’s manipulation and victim blaming are shown.  No woman, from the lowliest servant to the granddaughter of two Olympian gods, is safe.  All of the men are villains, all untrustworthy and self-serving.  For me, the absolute vilification of men actually weakens the message. 

The title is supposed to suggest that Phaedra is a tragic heroine.  Unfortunately, Phaedra gets lost in the narrative.  Various points of view are presented, and Phaedra’s perspective becomes one of many.  For instance, even Medea’s maidservant is given a chapter in which she witnesses Phaedra’s rape.  It would have been much more effective to have Phaedra narrate.  Since Phaedra is only one of many narrators, the reader struggles to know her.  In addition, there is nothing to differentiate the many characters whose points of view are given:  there are no distinctive voices so everyone sounds the same. 

It is also difficult to see Phaedra as more than a naïve young girl.  Given her age, her naivety is appropriate and justified, but her continued naivety is less credible.  Some growth would have made her more admirable.  As is, it is difficult to see her as a brave heroine.  Other characters are also one-dimensional.  Hippolytus, for instance, is arrogant and obsessed with horses.  The lack of depth in the portrayal of characters is a definite weakness.

In fact, most elements have a lack of depth.  There is little world building; all we know is that the palace in Athens suffers in comparison with the palace in Crete.  Instead there is much needless repetition.  How often must we be told that the table placed in Phaedra’s room is too large?  Why is there so much focus on the chiton she wears on each occasion? 

This book is a disappointment.  Though the theme is noteworthy, the writing style is uninspired.  The lack of psychological depth and inclusion of irrelevant perspectives are particular problems.  It’s another case of good intentions but poor execution. 

Note:  I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.