A Paradigm of Bad Motherhood: Phaedra as a Madrastra in Spanish Contemporary Drama

PhaeMa is an interdisciplinary project that focuses on the representation of stepmothers, epitomised by the figure of Phaedra, as one of the paradigms of the ‘bad woman’ in Spanish neoclassical drama.

This project examines how Spanish plays from 1998 to 2020—a corpus of seven plays by different authors and multifaceted versions of the myth—use Phaedra to challenge and dismantle societal taboos about gender roles and motherhood.

The project’s theoretical point of departure contends that while the core essence of the myth remains intact, the myth itself evolves to reflect contemporary Spanish perspectives on stepmotherhood.

To address this issue, the research will engage with Classical Reception Studies, Comparative Literature, and Myth and Drama Studies, emphasising both sociohistorical context and a gender-focused analytical approach.

The primary objectives of PhaeMa are: 1) To scrutinise the contemporary evolution (1998-2020) of the Phaedra myth in the context of malevolent stepmothers in Spanish culture, using carefully selected plays as critical lenses; 2) to investigate the various ways in which theatre articulates societal taboos, especially those related to stepmothers and women who diverge from traditional roles as wives and mothers; and 3) to evaluate the potential for drama to provoke catharsis in audiences, acting as both social catalyst and an instrument for social change.

Throughout the 20th century, the Phaedra myth has maintained a significant presence in the Spanish theatre landscape, sparkling a robust body of scholarly literature.

PhaeMa aims to build upon this academic discourse, while offering an expanded perspective, both chronologically and qualitatively, incorporating feminist, gender, and motherhood theories.