The Bacchae (By Euripides)

*The Bacchae* by Euripides is a Greek tragedy that explores the consequences of denying the divine. It tells the story of Pentheus, a king who dismisses the god Dionysus and refuses to honor him. In retaliation, Dionysus unleashes his wild, ecstatic followers, the Bacchae, who embody nature’s primal and uncontrollable forces. As Pentheus ignores the divine power, chaos ensues, leading to his tragic downfall—he is torn apart by the Bacchae, including his own mother. The play examines themes of hubris, divine retribution, and the tension between rationality and instinct.