Shan'Tra S. Henry- The Bacchae

In the Euripides Bacchae characters Pentheus and Dionysus seem to continually have an ongoing battle in regards to how much power one may hold over the other. In the particular text, Penthesus’ arrogance and persecution of the Bacchants can be justified. It seems that Pentheus’ city has been receiving some terror from the Bacchants, as I understood it is in regards to the mistreatment of their women or at least it’s affecting them the most. In this case why wouldn’t Pentheus feel that is important to condemn the Bacchants? Any ruler of a particular area wants there citizens to be at peace and will bring to justice those that are causing an up roaring. Dionysus was attempting to spread ideals in the kingdom of Pentheus, how disrespectful. I just think that Dionysus is being extremely sensitive when it comes to Pentheus not treating him like a “real” god. I believe Pentheus refers to Dionysus as a “new god” because maybe he does not yet deserve the respect that other gods have, so Pentheus refuses to treat him as such. Throughout this text Penthesus is justified in all that he is doing, it’s just that because Dionysus is a “god” that he comes off as being arrogant. But any king that cares about his people and kingship would have committed the same actions as Pentheus.