-Antistrophe, The Bacchae
Throughout The Bacchae, we see Pentheus acting in a rash and irrational manner. Speaking vehemently about things he didn't understand, refusing to believe the words of those wiser than him, and quickly jumping to conclusions without solid evidence, Pentheus is an example of a man whose "uncurbed tongue" and "lawless foolishness" resulted in his unhappiness and demise. Had Pentheus and his family exercised good sense, not only could he have been spared from his unfortunate fate, but the royal house could have avoided being disbanded, its members thrown into exile.
In my AP English class, we are reading King Lear by Shakespeare. I have noticed many parallels to The Bacchae on the theme of rashness vs reason. Lear, elderly and quick-tempered, exiles his most loyal and beloved daughter, Cordelia, when her description of the love she has for him fails to please him. Refusing to accept her explanation or listen to the common sense of his advisors, Lear banishes Cordelia and splits his kingdom between his two remaining daughters, the conniving Regan and Goneril. The decision to ignore reason and act rashly results in Lear's great suffering and abandonment at the hands of his daughters.
These two works of literature, written almost a thousand years apart, both reflect the same wisdom. Refuse reason and deny wisdom, they say, and suffer the consequences.
People must be humble if they expect to learn anything. It's just like they say in AA, the first step to strength is admitting defeat and weakness against something you cannot control.
ReplyDeleteIt was not simply up to Pentheus, though. His grandfather should not have let it get so bad, let his grandson grow up arrogant, and certainly not let someone like that rule over Thebes.