The Bacchae

Ancient Philosophy

Parts• Prologue• Parodos• First Episode• First Choral Ode• Second Episode• Second Choral Ode• Third Episode• Third Choral Ode• Fourth Episode• Fourth Choral Ode• Fifth Episode• Fifth Choral Ode• Exodos

Prologue

• Bacchus addresses the audience to announce himself and his reason for coming.

Parados

• The Parodos is a hymn of praise to Bacchus by his cult followers.

First Episode

• Tiresius and Cadmus

First Choral Ode

• The Chorus sings a hymn denouncing Pentheus as a blasphemer and extolling the virtues of simple living.

• Bacchus is praised as the god that brings wine and plenty that "cures [the] grief" of both the rich and the poor.

Second Episode

• A soldier brings Bacchus to the palace

• Bacchus and Pentheus– Political power– Religious power

• miracles

Second Choral Ode

• The Chorus sings another hymn to denounce Pentheus and pray for the release of their cult leader.

Third Episode

• there is an earthquake, and Bacchus is set free from the palace prison.

• A messenger arrives with news about the bacchants, the women outside the city.

• This messenger reports that they are not living lasciviously, like Pentheus said they were.

Third Choral Ode

• The Chorus looks forward to Bacchus’ revenge.

• The Chorus sings that although divine power is slow, it will certainly punish the arrogant.

• Again, the Chorus extols the virtues of the simple man who lives within the traditions of his people.

Fourth Episode

• Pentheus comes out of the palace dressed as a bacchant and playing the part.

• Now he is eager to spy on the women and hopes to catch them at lovemaking.

• Bacchus mocks him by humoring him, and promises that Pentheus will return in the arms of his mother.

• Pentheus replies, "I take what I deserve."

Fourth Choral Ode

• The Chorus sings to inspire the mad bacchants' rage against Pentheus.

• The Chorus refers to him as the offspring of animals and they call for justice to avenge the gods.

Fifth Episode

• The second messenger to appear in this play comes to report the violent death of Pentheus.

• When he could not see the women well, Pentheus complained, and so Bacchus bent down the top of a tree and placed him there.

• Once Pentheus was high up in the tree the messenger says Bacchus called and ordered the women to take their vengeance

Fifth Choral Ode

• The Chorus sings in celebration of Bacchus' revenge and mocks Agave when she returns carrying Pentheus' head, unaware that she has murdered her own son.

Exodos

• When Agave triumphantly returns to the city, even the Chorus expresses pity for her.

• Cadmus comes out to see what has happened, and then he talks Agave back to her senses, helping her face what she has done.

• Cadmus explains that Bacchus has punished them all, because they did not recognize him as a god.