Dionysus and Christ -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 07:30:11 03/03/08 Mon
Author: Shannon
Subject: Dionysus and Christ

In reviewing for todays exam, I noticed some interesting contrasts between Dionysus and Christ. Both, of course, are associated with wine: Dionysus as the giver of wine to men and Christ through Communion. Yet, the affect of this wine on their respecitve followers reveals once more the difference between the life of peace each offers.

In The Bacchae, Dionysus's gift of wine numbs men to the difficulties in their lives, outs them into a drunken stupor which resembles peace:
"He is the god whose sphere it is
to bring men together in the dances,
to laugh to the pipe's music,
and put an end to cares,
whenever the gleam of the grape's cluster
glints at the god's feast..." (pg 54)

Or, again:
"He gives to rich and humble
an equal share in the pleasure of wine
which banishes sorrow." (pg 55)

Christ's cup, however, comes from suffering, and offers true peace in life with the Father. Harkening back to the Old Testament in which the Lord describes blood as the lifesource of any living creature, Christ declares:
"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him in the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats of my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me." (John 6:53-57)

The life Dionysus offers is merely the appearance of life and peace, a wilful denial of troubles and difficulty. Christ assures his followers that "in this world they will have trouble" but the life he offers is everlasting and founded in the love of the Father.

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