THE BACCHAE

The Bacchae and the Enlightenment

The Bacchae and the Enlightenment

In The Bacchae, Teiresias gives a much longer speech than Cadmus in support of his argument that they should accept and honor the new god. His is the voice of ancient Greek culture that did indeed find room for the god Dionysus in its pantheon and its festivals. Teiresias argues to Pentheus that Dionysus has bestowed on man one of its two best blessings, the invention of wine (the other blessing comes from Demeter, the earth, who produces grain for man's nourishment). He says wine is the best way of warding off unhappiness. ...