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Overview

Synopsis

In the kingdom of Thebes, the young ruler Pentheus is furious at the sudden arrival of a Stranger and the frenzied female followers of Dionysus, the Bacchae. Pentheus and his family (grandfather Cadmus, mother Agave, and aunts Ino and Autonoe) have disavowed Dionysus as Zeus’ son, and therefore as a god. Ironically, Dionysus is a member of this family: His mother, Semele, is another daughter of Cadmus. Slowly, methodically, Dionysus takes his revenge on the family. First, he seduces Agave, Ino, and Autonoe into the ranks of the Bacchae, where they flee to Mount Cithaeron. Next, Dionysus confronts Pentheus as the Stranger and presents him with impossible miracles (such as an earthquake destroying the palace), before luring the young man to Mount Cithaeron so that he may spy on the Bacchae. But Pentheus walks into his own destruction: In a scene of heartbreaking violence, Agave turns against her own son, sealing the fate of the house of Cadmus.

Euripides’ final play, performed posthumously at the City Dionysia, is a violent warning against defying the gods. The Bacchae dramatizes the battle between opposing forces in the human psyche, the rational and the frenzied, and the horrific consequences of honor and recognition coming too late.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
Genres
Drama, Tragedy
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
Thebes, Ancient Greece, palace
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Late Teen, Early Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Dionysus

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Pentheus

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Cadmus

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Agave

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Tiresias

Featured

Male

Non-singer

First Messenger (Herald)

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Second Messenger (Servant)

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Soldier

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Chorus of Bacchae

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Guide Written By:

Cindi Calhoun

Cindi Calhoun

Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress