Blooms Literary Themes - THE GROTESQUE.pdf - ymerleksi - home

The Bacchae29torn apart by the women so he can be born again. The Orphic ritesincluded the tearing apart and eating of animals representing Zagreus,to account for the presence of both divinity and evil in human beings.Thus was the power of the god demonstrated at the same timethrough an epiphany.But Pentheus is not yet entirely subdued. He insists on continuingto run amok. He refuses the shepherds’ advice. He blusters that thisbacchic frenzy is disgracing Thebes in the eyes of all Hellas. He ordershis men to mobilize, saying that Theban men will not crawl to the altarof this god in obedience to the terrorizing acts of the bacchantes.Was he not right? Could he tolerate all this merely because itwas instigated by a god? Once more, and for the last time, man’srationality rises up against the irrational terror of the god. Dionysuswarns Pentheus in vain that he will die if he raises arms against him.But since warnings do not stop Pentheus, it will take other meansto overthrow him. Here the mystery part of the play comes to itsending.Dionysus displays his power over Pentheus, the mortal, withouteven needing a miracle. It is the dark side of Pentheus’s own characterthat drives him to his fate. Dionysus awakens it by projecting beforePentheus’s eyes a picture that arouses his sexual desires in a wave ofperverted lasciviousness. Dionysus promises Pentheus to take him towatch how the bacchantes are carrying on up on the mountain. Hewill be able to observe everything as a voyeur from a hiding place.Pentheus still calls out for his weapons, but Dionysus, with a cuttingexclamation, encourages the self-acting ferment working in Pentheus.Little by little, it destroys Pentheus’s reason.Now Dionysus has him firmly in his hands. His scorn abuseshim and puts him to shame. Pentheus, the most masculine of men,must dress in women’s clothing, as no man is permitted access to theorgies.He must put on his head the same wig with flowing locks that hehas just been ridiculing Dionysus for wearing. He must throw a fawnskin over his shoulders and carry a thyrsus as a symbol.As Pentheus objects that all Thebes would laugh at his appearance,Dionysus promises to conduct him through deserted streets.Pentheus darts into the house at once, “into our net,” as Dionysussays with mocking laughter before he follows him inside. Dionysussays of himself that though he is the most terrifying of the gods he is