In this article I present two arguments concerning Seneca's tragedy Phaedra: (1) The character Phaedra is not simply a scheming, manipulative and evil woman, but rather a woman torn apart by love and fear; (2) Phaedra in the play is not a badly and incoherently portrayed character, but a convincing and realistically drawn character. The two arguments are independent, but they combine to show Phaedra as one of Seneca's best tragic creations.