Bacchae Masterdoc
Themes:
Piety and Impiety Cadmus, however, I praise - divine approval [the city must learn its lesson] even against its will - those who do not respect the gods will be forced into piety Pentheus, who now fights with gods - impiety alert !!![Cadmus to Tiresias] the wise voice of a wise man - pious by respecting a prophet [Cadmus about Dionysus] We must honour him It is so sweet to forget we are old - youth through Bacchus Are we the only men… who will dance for Bacchus? - They are the only ones with sense [Pentheus] fake Bacchic rituals A magical enchanter - Pentheus claims the foreign priest of Dionysus is a faker [Pentheus] Because she lied that Zeus was her lover - again claims the Bacchant god is a lie So you can make more money - Pentheus claims Tiresias just wants profits, like Oedipus’ claim that he's a prophet in it for the profit.[Tiresieas to Pentheus] you are mad, agonisingly mad You will pay for your ignorance and irreverence to the god! - Dionysus tells Pentheus his fate He rages, how he rages - excessive anger from Pentheus I will sacrifice a great slaughter of women He will be punished by death I am in your hands now - Pentheus finally submits to Dionysus ‘you want to bring this new god to mankind so that you can make more money from augury and sacrifices’ - Pentheus accuses Tiresias of wanting money just like Oedipus The Gods I, Dionysus, son of Zeus - the play begins with a divine prologue. Dionysus states his purpose and sets the scene, shows piety from Euripedes, many of Euripedes plays begin with gods giving prologues [Page 1, prologue] with me! - leaving me… no mention of me - Dionysus as a selfish god, attention seeking, but maybe also claiming what should rightfully be his as a god?Commanding my maenads - the bacchant women lose their individuality and become ‘his’ and one unit My women - possessive pronoun [chorus’ blessed is he… who leads a life of reverence… who dances…who honours the rites [Zeus] concealing the baby within his thigh… Zeus brought him to birth - man born of man, link to the ‘men birth ideas’ thing Let it stream from the shaft - phallic Long thick hair [wine] it puts an end to the pain of suffering humans - Dionysus can both free you and control you, is the version of freedom truly freedom?You are well named for disaster - Pentheus’ name means is similar to the word Penthos, meaning pain or grief Shall I change from man to woman ? - Dionysus is often seen alongside gender reversal and transgression
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