The Bacchae is a play about madness, piety, gore, and civilizational collapse. Though unsettling, it is well worth your time and attention. It tells the story of the god Dionysus, yet, he is not the jovial god of wine—he is a licentious, cruel, and vindictive god who drives women to unspeakable horrors amongst other depravities.
So, why read the play?
Well, first, it provides a stark contrast to how Aeschylus and Sophocles present the gods, and this contrast creates a notable antecedent to Plato’s Euthyphro. You are joining the great conversation in seeing the dialogue of these texts. Second, it presents an image of Dionysus that will be memorable when reading Plato’s Symposium, a dialogue on erotic love and the divine.
Here is everything you need to read The Bacchae well:
Two video discussions with Dr. Frank Grabowski (below)
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Video Discussions on The Bacchae
“Madness, piety, gore, and civilizational collapse—the Bacchae by Euripides is a chilling yet captivating Greek tragedy that explores religion, erotic desire, the divine, and political stability through its graphic imagery and raw intensity,” states Dcn. Garlick in his guide to The Bacchae. Enjoy!
Great work! The Bacchae is worth your time and attention. Our Ascend Book Club reading list continues with a shift into comedy with Aristophanes’ The Clouds and The Frogs. Join us for an inappropriate but beneficial conversation.
Keep up the good work. You can read the great books with Ascend.
Dcn. Harrison Garlick lives in rural Oklahoma with his wife and five children. He serves as a deacon at Holy Family Cathedral and as Chancellor & General Counsel for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa. Follow him on X at Dcn. Garlick or Ascend.