Discussion Questions (Ken)
- Disguise: For almost the entire play, Dionysus is disguised as a priest of Dionysus. The audience is in on the trick, but the characters are not. Comment on the effectiveness of this device.
- Two Bacchae: Compare and contrast the Asiatic Bacchae with the Theban Bacchae.
- Dionysus vs. Yahweh: Compare and contrast the worship of Dionysus in The Bacchae with the worship of Yahweh in the Old Testament. What are the differences, if any, between what Dionysus wants from humans and what Yahweh wants? What character traits best describe them?
- Dionysus vs. Jesus: Compare and contrast Dionysus’ birth story with that of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Masks: How could the convention of masks come in handy at the end of this play?
- Poor Cadmus: Why is Cadmus punished so in this play (his family dies)?
- Raise Your Thyrsus: Do you believe in the gods?
Introduction
Ken complete in fawnskin and with thyrsus in hand opened the discussion with a dramatic reading of the first few pages of the book.
Historical Setting
Just before the Trojan War in 1250 during the 3rd generation after the founding of Thebes
http://www.sikyon.com/Thebes/history_eg.html
Literary Devices
The audience is in on Dionysus’s identity but the characters are not. What effect does this have on the play?
Suspense?
Helps the audience from becoming confused?
Adds an element of humor
Compare Asiatic Bacchae with Theban Women
Asiatic Bachae (brought with Dionysus)
Willing worshippers?
Theban women
Driven mad. Not worshipping by their own choice. Possessed or in a frenzy
Yahweh vs. Dionysus
Yahweh
Wants recognition and status but also desires complete devotion
Is a jealous god
Desires his people to be set apart
Provides a plan
Is the one and only God
Dionysus
Does he want Complete Devotion?
Or just recognition of his status.
Does Dionysus want a set apart people
Seems to be after the outward show or “lip service”
Just wants to be recognized on par among the other gods
Dionysus Vs. Jesus
Jesus
Left the Father and was born on earth by a mortal
Virgin birth story is not believed
Godly identity is not believed
Forgives those who persecute him
Provides the way to eternal glory
Dionysus
Leaves the mortal and is taken to the “Father” and is born
Virgin birth story is not believed
Godly Identity is not believed
Sought vengenance on those who persecuted him
Provides escape from suffering on earth
Correllations
Bread and wine are symbols of blessing
Dramatic Complications
How would ancient greeks have staged an earthquake?
Some think the chorus were mimetic dancers miming out the story as it happened
Maybe it happened “offstage”
One theory is the more descriptive the dialogue the less likely the event was acted out
Here is a link with further info
Historical context
When Euripides wrote and performed these plays the Persian Empire and battle of Thermopoly would have been recent history. How could this have formed/influenced the message of the play?
God’s Today
If the greeks were still alive today would they create god’s for the internet? atomic bomb?…
Are they trying to explain the effects of alcohol by forming a wine god?
What is the message about the power of Dionysus?
When you think about what happened to Pentheus what is the point?
Is it showing a force beyond you?
Scripture Parallel
Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzers Dream.
Nebuchadnezzer gloating in his powerful kingdom loses his sanity and fancies himself a cow. He is not restored until he recognizes God
Pentheous proud and haughty will not acknowledge Dionysus so he loses his sanity and his life.
Pentheus seems to be a zealot for the wrong cause narrow minded and legalistic not open to new ideas
is Euripedis showing the fault of this mindset?
Cadmus
why is Cadmus punished so harshly?
He loses both his family and his heir
He was open minded willing and ready to worship Dionysus.
Is he responsible for the views and actions of his family?
Or is it that he came “to late to the party”
Do You Believe in the Greek Gods?
Are bits and pieces of greek gods or “composite gods” unconsciously infiltrating our beliefs today?
Ancient greek worship seems very transactional
Conclusion
Significant debate on 5th century views of the gods.
Is Euripedes demonstrating what anthopromorphised gods would be like?
To an ancient greek citizen asking “Do you believe in the gods?” would be like asking someone today “Do you believe in a tornado?”
Ending
We ended this weeks book club with a scripture reading from Ephesians 5:8.