The Error of My Ways

Title/Subject: Meditation 6

Euripides is completely guilty of creating a seriously deficient deity. In the final and most dismal scene of The Bacchae, Dionysus remains completely indifferent to the suffering he has caused the mortals Cadmus, Agave, and Pentheus. Even the faithful Chorus acknowledges his ill deeds when they divulge, “I grieve with you, Cadmus: your daughter’s son has justice now, but so much grief for you” (Sc. 6, pg. 57). This is significant because throughout the play the Chorus shows nothing but the utmost fervor and devotion for the god. Yet something clearly gives when Agave appears on stage still unaware of the slaughter and the Chorus refers to her as pitiful and poor. Dionysus is ignorant of his injustice until the very end stating finally, “If you had understood your mortal natures…you would now be in blessedness” (Sc. 6, pg. 60). The sight that follows indicates that it is the god who refuses to understand the natures of mortals as Cadmus and Agave say their goodbyes. Their mutual suffering unites them in a way that Dionysus cannot even begin to comprehend. They will endure while he just comes out looking like a merciless a-hole.

The first time I read The Bacchae last spring I was stunned by the insolence of the human characters. How could they deny this amazingly powerful and appealing god? Why was Pentheus such a little prick when the truth is right there in front of him? I just assumed he was bitter because the ladies were having a good time in the woods while he was in town having to deal with two silly old men. Now I know I was taken in by Dionysus’ charms just as the women of Thebes were. I was drunk with love for this audacious figure. I praised his violence as just and satisfying. For I felt that nothing could be “nobler than to hold a dominating hand above the bent head of the enemy” (4th Chorus, pg. 37). I lament that it has taken me several readings to realize that these poor characters are not my enemy at all but my kindred. The ways of the Divine are mysteriously cruel and there is no solace save that which you find in other mortals. Euripides subverts the supposedly splendid quality of Dionysus to reveal that humans are capable of something far beyond the gods’ facilities: compassion.