The Bacchae Lesson Plan

Do you think Pentheus got what he deserved?

Some students will say he absolutely did. Pentheus was given repeated, prophetic warnings by Cadmus, Tieresias, and the "stranger" (Dionysus himself) and still he remained stubborn. Even when confronted with an impartial messenger's account, Pentheus refuses to waiver. Others will argue that while Pentheus is at fault, so it Dionysus--he clearly led Pentheus on, purposefully making him angrier and more zealous. Both Pentheus and Dionysus, though, are young and inexperienced (i.e. they don't have sophia, the wisdom that only comes with age).

Agave is proud of the "trophy" of her hunt because it was "taken not with nets nor...