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 #1
Dionysus:
"I am changed, of course, a god made man" (1)
There are lots of transformations that happen in The Bacchae. The first one happens before the play even begins. Dionysus has changed his appearance to that of a mortal. We wonder why he feels the need to do so. Couldn't he just show up all godly glory and start punishing the unbelievers? Maybe, he's testing them, or maybe he just likes messing with people. What do you think?
Quote #2
Pentheus:
"Something very strange is happening in this town.
They tell me our womenfolk have left their homes
--in ecstasy if you please-- […]
dancing honor on this brash new god." (21)
King Pentheus is furious about the little transformation that Dionysus has performed on the women of Thebes. They've gone from submissive ladies, totally under his control, to wild women of the woods. It probably gets under his skin even more this wild group of women includes his mother and aunts.