Pentheus' possible escape? -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 18:56:35 02/10/08 Sun
Author: JD
Subject: Pentheus' possible escape?

When we discussed King Lear the question was raised as to whether or not Cordelia was originally able to escape from joining in the game of her sisters. We also talked about Edgar being the character in which the hope of escape from the violence lay. In the Bacchae it seems to me that despite the constantly explicit desires for revenge in Dionysus, there seems to be a part in which he offers Pentheus an escape from the violence in which he wishes to take part: "You hear my words,Pentheus, but they make no impression on you. However, even though I suffer this bad treatment at your hands, I still tell you that you should not take up arms against a god. No, you should do nothing. Bromius will not tolerate your dislodging the bacchae from the mountains of joy." (787-792) Does this perhaps mean that Pentheus could have avoided his own sacrifice if he did not wish to propagate the violence? Furthermore, does this mean that perhaps Dionysus is the god who is "forced irresistably to do evil" or is he the god who "enjoys doing evil and is amused by it" as it seems sometimes throughout the play?

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