women in the bacchae Flashcards
What had the women done in the start of the bacchae?
Abandoned their homes + looms to take part in the bacchic rituals in the mountains
Hoe does Pentheus describe the womens behaviour?
They are diseased + dishonouring their beds
What will Pentheus do to the women he captured?
Sell them as slaves or keep them as servants
What does Dionysus tell the women to do?
Take courage and stop trembling
How were the Maenads behaving?
They are feeding animals
They let their hair down
Wearing fawn skins
What does Pentheus say about suffering?
It has gone too far if they have to suffer at the hands of women
What was the messenger shocked at?
Women overcoming men
How is Agave described in the end of the play?
Foaming at the mouth + her eyes rolling in all directions
What does agave rejoice about to her father?
She left the shuttles of her loom + hunts wild animals with her bare hands
How does Dionysus subvert the female persona?
Obliterating Agave’s agency as an individual human being
She becomes animalistic + incapable of conscious consideration
How does Dionysus treat Pentheus in comparison to Agave?
He warns + threatens Pentheus into reconsidering his actions
He takes free will from Agave by forcing her to perform Bacchic rituals
What does Roisman say about Agave’s reaction scene?
“Agave’s recognition scene is one of the most painful and harrowing scenes in Greek tragedy. No parent can watch it and not sympathise.”
