Euripides, E: Bacchantes - Euripides

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Résumé :
Excerpt from Bacchantes: Edited on the Basis of Wecklein's Edition

The Bacchantes of Euripides represents the con?ict between a ?ippant scepticism, blinding itself with persistent folly, and a newly-revealed faith, or rather, religious faith in general; for, while the Dionysiac worship, which is the immediate object of the con?ict, is a new worship, it is plain that the poet takes the Oppo sitiou to it as but an instance of the refusal of an arrogant ration aliem to recognize the supernatural in general, whether in the ancestral faith or in a new worship. The play is aimed at the sceptical side of the Sophistic movement and kindred tendencies of society at the time. Both the outcome of the action, and the choral odes, which are to be regarded as interpreting the action, show unmistakably that the poet meant to recommend the accep tance of the national faith and traditions as the only ground of a contented and happy life, and to exhibit the mischief of an unsound and irreligious philosophy. These facts give to the sub jcet and its treatment. By Euripides an interest for all time. The relation of such views to those of the poet's earlier works is a question which lies beyond the sphere of this Introduction, as is also any inquiry into the propriety of combining an ethical and an aesthetic motive in the treatment of the subject. The play is one of the poet's last works; it, however, reveals no trace of the weakness of age. Defects there are in the execution of details, as in the other works of Euripides. But, in poetic power in general, the Bacchantes is superior to many, perhaps we may say to any, of the poet's earlier plays. Besides the subject-matter itself, especially interesting features of the play are the skilfully, though simply, constructed plot; the splendid choral odes, expressing the one theme of pious devotion in varying forms following the develop ment of the action; the brilliant pieces of narration in the Mes sengers' speeches, and the striking situation in every scene.

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