Analysis of the Bacchae
In The Bacchae, written by Euripides, Tiresias serves a few different roles. He acts as a model of piety first and foremost in this text, but he also makes a brief reference to what is to come and serves as a voice of wisdom. He does not have a large role in this play, but he creates foreshadowing and portrays the message to be taken away. He is paralleled at the end by Cadmus, who heard Tiresias' words and suffered the destruction of his family, who restates the importance of piety, but this is only a reflection of the message and warning that Tiresias gives at the beginning.
When Tiresias enters he is dressed for a Bacchic ritual and is summoning Cadmus to go along with him. [1] He is careful that they should do everything they can to show the god as much respect as possible, choosing to walk to the mountain to which they are headed and to partake in the dancing there even though they are both aged. [2] These men are certainly pious, although at this time the other Thebans are not. Tiresias says "We see things clearly; all others are perverse" [3], showing that all others are non-believers and perhaps insinuating that the others must be corrected.
Tiresias states that their ancient religion "cannot be overthrown by any argument"[4], justifying them in the actions which Cadmus' son is about to denounce as inappropriate for them. He continues this argument that "the god draws no distinction between young and old...He desires equal worship from all men: his claim to glory is universal; no one is exempt". [5] This is not only stating that everyone should be pious and worship Dionysus, but also foreshadowing something for the skeptics who would reject the god. Indeed, most of the middle section of the play is Dionysus showing people exactly what happens when they refuse to worship him.
After this Pentheus, the impious grandson of Cadmus, enters to denounce this new god and blame Tiresias for introducing Dionysus and for his grandfather's belief. [6] Most of the rest of Tiresias' dialog is arguing against Pentheus. He proclaims the supremacy of the god of the drink that mortals sate themselves with and pour out as libations for all the other gods. [7] He explains the true, if lesser known, version of the story of Dionysus' birth, clarifying another point toward which Pentheus is contemptuous. [8] He foretells to the younger man how Bacchic worship will spread across Greece and explains how he has already been having effects on people. [9] He argues that the women are not corrupted by the rituals so long as they are chaste of mind [10], meaning there is nothing inherently dangerous for them in the rituals. (The exception to this is when Dionysus is punishing people, as is shown through his power over Pentheus and Agauë, among others.)
Even after Pentheus' anger and accusations, Tiresias bids Cadmus to go with him to pray for the god's forgiveness for Pentheus as well as the rest of the unbelieving Thebes. [11] He gives a small prayer for Cadmus' house as well. He says "God grant [Pentheus] may not bring sorrow upon your house" but amends it with "Do not take that as prophecy; I judge his acts". [12] These lines show Tiresias' persisting wish to help people and wish for the wellbeing of others, but is again foreshadow that the house of Cadmus will probably be brought much sorrow.
At this point Tiresias and Cadmus exit to worship the god and save themselves from his wrath. Tiresias, though he has a small role in this text, is shown to fill many roles. His piety is apparent again and again in the few pages in which he appears. The audience is reminded that he is a prophet a few times throughout, and his good will toward others, even those who would turn misplaced anger on him. He generally foreshadows most of the rest of the story but most importantly, his speech portrays the message that piety is one of the most important aspect of Greek life.
[1] Euripides. "The Bacchae." The Bacchae and Other Plays. Trans. Philip Vellacott. New York: Penguin, 1954. 197
[2] Ibid. 197
[3] Ibid. 197
[4] Ibid. 198
[5] Ibid. 198
[6] Ibid. 200
[7] Ibid. 200
[8] Ibid. 201
[9] Ibid. 200-201
[10] Ibid. 202
[11] Ibid. 203
[12] Ibid. 203
[2] Ibid. 197
[3] Ibid. 197
[4] Ibid. 198
[5] Ibid. 198
[6] Ibid. 200
[7] Ibid. 200
[8] Ibid. 201
[9] Ibid. 200-201
[10] Ibid. 202
[11] Ibid. 203
[12] Ibid. 203