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Euripides Bacchae 1. The Masks of Dionysus. Dionysus and Satyr, Makron, ca. 480. Neo Matrix Reloaded (2003). David Koresh (Waco TX 1993). drunk (?) both sides means to do well but doesn’t gods can be ambiguous don’t have to be good or bad d a little too human.
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Euripides Bacchae 1 The Masks of Dionysus
NeoMatrix Reloaded (2003) David Koresh(Waco TX 1993)
drunk (?) both sides means to do well but doesn’t gods can be ambiguous don’t have to be good or bad d a little too human good thing to follow him (bad not to) plato would be conflicted p & d have multiple sides b/c d acting human, takes divinity out of it personal affront more than hippolytus What Sort of God is This?
For Next Time: • Performance and interpretation • scene pp. 264 ff. • Ending: justice? • WHAT WOULD the Platonic SOCRATES SAY TO DIONYSUS? • What would Dionysus say back?
Agenda • Background 1 • Play Facts, Backstory • Background 2 • Dionysus, Dionysianism • Theme and Action • Keep it Real? Dionysus
Background 1 Play Facts, Backstory
Other Dionysian Tragedy • Aeschylus • Edonians (tetralogy) • Pentheus tetralogy • Sophocles’ son … • Xenocles Bacchae
characters, etc. Euripides’s Bacchae:Play Facts, Backstory • Posthumous production (Mar 405) • Iphigenia at Aulis • Alcmeon • Bacchae • satyr play • Text • interpolation • corruption • Backstory • Cadmus founds Thebes • Semele scorned • Pentheus king • Dionysus returns
prologue (pp. 229 ff.) Dionysus parodos (231) Chorus of Asian (Anatolian) Bacchants. Cult hymn 1st episode (234) Tiresias, Cadmus, Pentheus 1st stasimon (241) Pentheus’ impiety 2nd episode (243) Servant, Pentheus, Dionysus (in disguise). Interrogation 2nd stasimon (248) Thebes’ rejection of Dionysus 3rd episode (250) Earthquake. Choral dialogue with Dionysus. Short dialogue, D&P (250) Messenger scene. “Hubris” in the hills (254) Tempting of Pentheus. D&P (258) 3rd stasimon (262) Hope restored, do not mock the god 4th episode (264) D&P. Fitting scene 4th stasimon (268) Excited song of vengeance 5th episode (269) Messenger (servant on death of Pentheus) 5th stasimon (273) Short song of triumph exodos (274) Agave’s mad scene with lyric dialogue Cadmus’s return with Pentheus recognition, reversal Lament for Pentheus Deus ex machina Analysis
Background 2 Dionysus, Dionysianism
Dionysus on What Dionysus Is I am Dionysus, the son of Zeus. My mother was Semele, the mortal daughter of Cadmus…. ₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪ Many a town have I seen, with beautiful towers and Greeks and Barbarians mingling in the streets. Everywhere I stayed to teach my dances and rites, Making my godhead known to all men. But this great city is the first I’ve reached in Hellas. (pp. 229-230)
Tiresias on What Dionysus Is(pp. 238 ff.) • INEXPRESSABLE:… my words cannot begin to describe His magnitude. • GOD AS WINE:He drew forth sweet liquid from the grapes,… • DOUBLE BIRTH:[Zeus] broke off a piece of the ether that circles the earth / and from it he molded a likeness of Dionysus.” • PROPHECY • The Bacchic frenzy inspires frenzy.
Dionysus with Satyrs,Athenian cup (“Brygos painter”)circa 510 BCE
Maenadic Frenzy / Rapture • Frenzy • thyrsus … • sparagmos • “dismemberment” • omophagia • “raw eating” • oresibasia • “mountain dancing” • Rapture …
io bakkhe ! euoi !
Dionysian Mysteries, Initiation • Cross-dressing • Mystic knowing • Ritual dying, rebirth LIFE-DEATH-LIFE
Theme and Action Keep it Real?
Bacchae: Seeds of Doubt? CADMUS I’m only a man. When God speaks, I must listen. TIRESIAS Indeed! Nor should we pretend to know too much / about the ways of Heaven. Our fathers’ faith, as old / as time itself – no logic shall overturn it! (p. 236) ₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪₪ CADMUS If you doubt the god is a god, then lie a little, / tell a white lie for our glory, admit that Semele / is mother of a God. (p. 240)
Choral Dialogue pp. 97-9: How to stage earthquake-demolition? Why??