Bacchae Themes Flashcards
importance of family relationships
tragedy interested in components making up a stable society and how they can unravel
primary unit of society = family
tragedy filled with dysfunctional families
where is importance of family relationships seen?
killing within family
Pentheus’ mistakes destroy his family, since he is sole heir
ensuring safe continuation of family line was central part of male identity - Cadmus laments Pentheus’ actions
why is family relationships important?
reflecting how Pentheus’ behaviour has contaminated family
Cadmus’ punishment is particularly harsh –> sees his family destroyed
justice and revenge
founding principle was that one should help friends and harm enemies
justice is form of reciprocity –> revenge
deeply rooted in Greek culture
should not assume that Greeks saw no problems with revenge - common theme in tragedy is problems it can cause
where is justice and revenge seen?
Dionysus’ revenge seems to be too far
imo Pentheus deserved punishment, but not such a brutal death by his own mother, humiliated
why is justice and revenge important?
gods can respond as harshly as they liked
justice of gods harsher than mortals - Zeus’ decree
Cadmus argues that they should aspire to higher ethical standards - Euripides often questioned justice of the gods
making issues explicit - drawing connection with contemporary debates among intellectuals
position of men and women
position, responsibility to each other and what happens when these go wrong are common themes in tragedy
where are positions of men and women seen?
breakdown of social codes - women have abandoned duties and families to worship Dionysus
Dionysus’ androgynous nature, Pentheus dressing up as a woman
why are positions of men and women important?
Pentheus’ distrust of Bacchic worship seems unjust, but may have some foundation
Pentheus is wrong to think that the women are having sex, but their actions have impact on married lives
worship depends on breakdown of norms society is founded on
can be interpreted as exploration of tensions in patriarchal society
Pentheus’ fate may be warning either of what can happen if women are not properly controlled, or of dangers of excessively suppressing them
political ideas and ideals
tragedy set in time where cities ruled by kings
would have accepted as fact about earlier times + use kings to comment on contemporary beliefs about danger of tyranny
5th century Athenian context, government by a single ruler (tyrannos) is associated with bad old days and invasion of Persians
no coincidence that kings in tragedy are quick to anger, touchy and over emotional
where are political ideas and ideals seen?
negative portrayal of how power can corrupt as Pentheus believes himself to be only legitimate authority in Thebes
hubris - excessive pride / not worshipping gods
why is political ideas and ideals important?
Pentheus’ hubris was feature Greek associated with tyrants
prophecy and prophets
most Greeks properly believed in prophecy
aware that could be unreliable or mistakes in interpretating gods’ messages
where is prophecy and prophets seen?
Tiresias provides advice, but Pentheus doesn’t take it
why is prophecy and prophets important?
reliability explored through Tiresias
audience recognises his wise advice, characters discover this too late
fears reflect anxiety about religious authorities abusing power
conflict between Tiresias and Pentheus reflects a clash between religious and political forms of authority
