OCR ClassCiv Bacchae

Euripides' 'The Bacchae' play, performed at the city Dionysia in 405 BC. Short summary of major points to understand what happens, before doing some wider revision in order to know the text inside out.

Prologue

Dionysus, in disguise, introduces himself and tells the audience of his divine origins. He also explains his reason for returning to Thebes, to punish his cousin, Pentheus, and the rest of Thebes, for refusing to acknowledge him as a God. He recounts the story of his mother, Semele, and Zeus, explaining her tragic death, and also tells us how he has already worked up the women, the maenads, into a Bacchic frenzy.

Parados

The chorus enter, praising Dionysus through singing and dancing. They call for Thebes to accept his rites, as they celebrate his worship and recount his birth. They also describe the allure and bliss of Bacchic rites.

Episode 1

The blind prophet Tiresias and the former king, Cadmus, enter, dressed and prepared to join the Bacchic rites, largely out of reverence and fear. When Pentheus enters, he is furious, both at them and the women of Thebes. He threatens to destroy the religious symbols that Tiresias possesses, and to punish all of Dionysus’ followers. Tiresias warns Pentheus that defying a God is dangerous, and he will pay the price for it.

First Stasimon

The chorus condemn the arrogance and impiety of Pentheus, calling for him to face divine retribution. They long for an escape to cyprus, where they would be free to worship Dionysus as they pleased, presenting Dionysus as a bringer of joy and tranquility.

Episode 2

Pentheus orders the arrest of the ‘stranger’, i.e. Dionysus in disguise. He is brought to him, by the guard, who is amazed by Dionysus’ willingness. Pentheus is both fascinated and enraged by the stranger’s calm demeanor, and has him imprisoned.

Second Stasimon

The chorus retell the story of Dionysus’ divine origins, comparing it to the lowly mortal ones of Pentheus, from the house of Cadmus. The chorus call on Dionysus to punish Pentheus, before speculating where he might be (Nysa, Mount Olympus or Pieria - birthplace of the muses)

Episode Three

Dionysus breaks free of his prison, with a flash of white light, and summons flames around Semele’s tomb. The chorus, in an act of hysteria and overwhelmed, throw themselves to the ground and worship him as their leader (he is still in disguise atp) Pentheus then enters, though still defiant, and then a herdsman appears and reports the supernatural attacks on the cattle by the Maenads. Dionysus convinces Pentheus to dress up and spy on the women.

Third Stasimon

The tone of the chorus is now much more triumphant, as they imagine themselves to be a dear, free and running through a forest. Divine retribution towards Pentheus is near.

Episode Four

Dionysus calls upon Pentheus to enter, and he does so, dressed as a female Bacchant. It is made evident that Dionysus has put Pentheus under a spell and is being manipulated. They converse about his disguise, and Pentheus appears oblivious to any sense of danger, ending with Dionysus predicting/ foreshadowing the destruction of Pentheus at his motehr’s hands.

Fourth Stasimon

The tone of the chorus is bloodthirsty, as they imagine a cowherd’s account of an attack on the cattle. It doesn’t exactly foreshadow events, but does imagine Agave lurking on a cliff, ready to catch him. They talk about Pentheus’ impiety and warn of its consequences.

Episode 5

The messenger speech, whereby the Pentheus’ death is recounted. Pentheus climbs/ is placed in the tree by Dionysus, but is then exposed to the Bacchants, who attempt to stone him. Led by Agave, he is eventually caught and torn to pieces.

Fifth Stasimon

To maintain the urgency of the moment, the chorus launches into a brief song, first triumphant over Pentheus's death and then acknowledging the horror of a mother ripping up her son. (from sparknotes)

Exodus

Agave, still under the spell, believes she has captured a Lion, and boasts of her success to her father. He tells her to look up, then back down, and she comes to the tragic realisation that she is holding the head of her son. Dionysus suggests that Agave be sent away, and both she and Cadmus lament over the death of Pentheus.