The play explores the brutal nature of love, social relations, nihilism and belief through the example of an affair between a queen and her stepson.

It centres more on Hippolytus (the original focuses more on Phaedra), who is rendered lazy and cynical by his upbringing as the son of King Theseus.

The play opens with Hippolytus cleaning semen and snot with socks that are lying about his room.

She confides in her daughter, Strophe, who likewise warns Phaedra against pursuing an affair with Hippolytus.

Strophe confronts Hippolytus about the accusation, but he refuses to deny or confirm the allegation, though the subtext implies that he did not.

Afterwards, when Theseus sees the corpses, he realizes that it was Strophe who he had just raped and killed and expresses regret before cutting his own throat.