Themes | The Bacchae
Man and the Natural World
Throughout The Bacchae there are images of humanity finding harmony with nature.
Rules and Order
The Bacchae is a warning to what can happen when an adherence to rules and
order goes too far.
Religion
The central conflict with The Bacchae can be seen as a religious one. The God
Dionysus comes home to Greece bringing with him religion he’s inspired all over
Asia.
Madness
In The Bacchae, the theme of madness pops up constantly. The god Dionysus has
a way of driving people mad and making them wild.
Transformation
There are all kinds of transformation in the Bacchae. People go in and out of sanity,
mild-mannered women become warrior priestesses, and stiff-necked kings become
cross-dressers.
Violence
The Bacchae is full of gruesomeness and violence. You’ve got both animals and
people being ripped apart.
Women and Femininity
The Bacchae explores the issue of femininity in many interesting ways. We see a
group of women rebel against their place in society and usurp the power of men.
Throughout The Bacchae there are images of humanity finding harmony with nature.
Rules and Order
The Bacchae is a warning to what can happen when an adherence to rules and
order goes too far.
Religion
The central conflict with The Bacchae can be seen as a religious one. The God
Dionysus comes home to Greece bringing with him religion he’s inspired all over
Asia.
Madness
In The Bacchae, the theme of madness pops up constantly. The god Dionysus has
a way of driving people mad and making them wild.
Transformation
There are all kinds of transformation in the Bacchae. People go in and out of sanity,
mild-mannered women become warrior priestesses, and stiff-necked kings become
cross-dressers.
Violence
The Bacchae is full of gruesomeness and violence. You’ve got both animals and
people being ripped apart.
Women and Femininity
The Bacchae explores the issue of femininity in many interesting ways. We see a
group of women rebel against their place in society and usurp the power of men.