How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used Paul Roche's translation.
Quote #7
Chorus:
"Slowly but surely divine
Power moves to annul
The brutally minded man
Who in his wild delusions refuses
To reverence the gods." (173)
Here the Chorus alludes that to deny the gods is madness. It's interesting that the people telling us this worship a god who induces madness as a hobby. Looks like no matter what you do in the world of The Bacchae you end up crazy.
Quote #8
Pentheus:
"Now I'd say your head was horned…
or were you an animal all the while?
For certainly you've changed…oh, into a bull." […]
Dionysus: "You see things as you ought." (178-179)
Now that Dionysus has messed with Pentheus's head the beguiled King can finally see the truth of the god's form. Does that mean Pentheus was crazy before or that he's crazy now?
Quote #9
Messenger:
"She was foaming at the mouth.
Her eyes dilated rolled.
Her mind was gone--possessed by Bacchus--
she could not hear her son." (225)
Talk about madness. Agave has been driven so insane by Dionysus that she's about rip her own son limb from limb. She is in the throws of a holy trance, which, depending how you look at it, has some very holy or very unholy results.