The Bacchae
The Bacchae is an ancient Greek tragedy, written by playwright Euripides in 405 BC. The play displays the six elements of drama described by Aristotle in the Poetics. These elements include plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song. Though all six elements are important,three are most evident within The Bacchae, including plot, character, and thought.
The plot is the most important part of The Bacchae, because it provides readers with a storyline. The plot intrigues readers to continue reading. Euripides does a magnificent job of this just within the prologue of the play. For example, Dionysus discusses the treatment that his mother Semele received from her sisters, “ For my mother’s sisters have acted badly, something they, …show more content…
Characters like Dionysus, the protagonist, and Pentheus, the antagonist, bring forth conflict based on their arrogance. From very early on, Pentheus is displeased with Dionysus. A primary example is when Pentheus comes back to his city to find that a stranger, Dionysus, is being treated as a God. “I hear the disgusting things going on, here in the city… With dances honoring some upstart god, this Dionysus, whoever he may be.” It is evident that Pentheus immediately dislikes Dionysus simply upon his return. This implies that Pentheus does not view Dionysus as a real god but rather as a self-proclaimed one who is trying to start rebellion in his city. The idea that people are acting in weird manners disturbs Pentheus. He believes that having order in the city is paramount. Furthermore, he views the freedom of worshiping any spirit as the absence of any form of law. Clearly Dionysus causes an unquestionable disturbance to Pentheus, making it obvious in The Bacchae, that Dionysus was out to seek vengeance for his late mother. Though Dionysus has a great deal of hatred for Pentheus, his demonstration of arrogance is similar. Since Dionysus also has a stereotypical god complex, he demands to be worshipped or will bring a wrath to the people. He makes this evident when talking to Pentheus, “I’d sooner make an offering to that god than in some angry fit kick at his whip-a mortal going to battle with a God.”
The plot is the most important part of The Bacchae, because it provides readers with a storyline. The plot intrigues readers to continue reading. Euripides does a magnificent job of this just within the prologue of the play. For example, Dionysus discusses the treatment that his mother Semele received from her sisters, “ For my mother’s sisters have acted badly, something they, …show more content…
Characters like Dionysus, the protagonist, and Pentheus, the antagonist, bring forth conflict based on their arrogance. From very early on, Pentheus is displeased with Dionysus. A primary example is when Pentheus comes back to his city to find that a stranger, Dionysus, is being treated as a God. “I hear the disgusting things going on, here in the city… With dances honoring some upstart god, this Dionysus, whoever he may be.” It is evident that Pentheus immediately dislikes Dionysus simply upon his return. This implies that Pentheus does not view Dionysus as a real god but rather as a self-proclaimed one who is trying to start rebellion in his city. The idea that people are acting in weird manners disturbs Pentheus. He believes that having order in the city is paramount. Furthermore, he views the freedom of worshiping any spirit as the absence of any form of law. Clearly Dionysus causes an unquestionable disturbance to Pentheus, making it obvious in The Bacchae, that Dionysus was out to seek vengeance for his late mother. Though Dionysus has a great deal of hatred for Pentheus, his demonstration of arrogance is similar. Since Dionysus also has a stereotypical god complex, he demands to be worshipped or will bring a wrath to the people. He makes this evident when talking to Pentheus, “I’d sooner make an offering to that god than in some angry fit kick at his whip-a mortal going to battle with a God.”