Euripides’ Bacchae: Dionysus

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The play has a few instances from several different participants that clearly outline that humans are beneath gods. Tiresias line where he states, "To the gods, we mortals are all ignorant” (Euripides, Euripides Bacchae, 2008, Line 200). The chorus makes a speech in which they say, “Though gods live in the sky, from far away in heaven they gaze upon the deeds of men...And thinking deeply about things isn't suitable for moral men" (Euripides, Euripides Bacchae, 2008, Lines 494-499). This statement shows humans and gods did not live together. It even iterates that the gods are above humans, as thinking is more for gods and not humankind. The chorus even instructs, "Whatever comes down from the gods--that's how mortals ought to live" (Euripides, Euripides Bacchae, 2008, Lines 1246-1247). It gives one the impression humans cannot live without gods in their lives, as they are the ones who instruct and guide them. Otherwise, they would live a life of grief.

As noted in the book 'The Grotesque' it states, "Siegfried Melchinger's analysis of the play makes clear, The Bacchae's grotesque scenes are indispensable to the representation of Dionysus and the contrary drives of the human psyche he holds under his sway." The book “Bacchai” sums up Dionysus with the statement that he, “deranges the rational, effeminizes men, and with his earthquake visibly, manifestly intrudes the untamed verdant natural…” (Euripides, Bacchai).

Therefore, as one can see, Euripides made entirely clear how he wanted the audience to see Dionysus. He wanted to portray him as being both a vindictive, petty god as well as a psychological force. The various quotes from the play itself, Bacchae, reveal the personification of Dionysus being the complex god in which he made clear the line between humankind and gods was vast indeed. Some might disagree on the analysis of Dionysus from the various resources quoted on him being a petty, vindictive god and a psychological force, but it is evident Euripides wanted to tell the audience Dionysus was all that and much more.

Bibliography

Euripides. (1960). Bacchae (Second ed.). (E. R. Dodds, Ed.) Oxford: Oxford University Press, Inc.

Euripides. (1979). The Bacchae of Euripides. (G. S. Kirk, Trans.) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Euripides. (2008). Euripides Bacchae. (I. Johnston, Trans.) Arlington, Virginia, USA: Richer Resources Publications.

Euripides. (n.d.). Bacchai. (C. Teevan, Trans.) London: CPI Group.

Hobby, B. (Ed.). (2009). The Grotesque. New York City: Infobase Publishing.

Sandys, J. E. (1880). The Bacchae of Euripides with Critical and Explanatory Notes. Cambridge: The University Press.