Throughout the play, the audience cannot help but feel merciless towards Pentheus. In his opening scene, Pentheus does not heed the warnings bestowed upon him by Teiresias and Cadmus. Before Pentheus even meets Dionysus, Teiresias offers him wise advice:

'So, Pentheus listen to me. Do not mistake the rule of force for true power. Men are not shaped by force. Nor should you boast of wisdom, when everyone but you can see how sick your thoughts are. Instead, welcome this God to Thebes. Exalt him with wine, garland your head and join the Bacchic revels'(19).

Cadmus carefully tries to persuade his grandson by adding, 'For even if you are right and this God is not a God, why say it? Why not call him one? You have everything to gain from such a lie'(20). Pentheus shows no respect for the elderly or their wisdom by replying, 'Go! Run

to your Bacchic revels. I want none of your senile folly rubbing off on me!'(21). This response alone reveals a great deal about his disposition. He will not let any 'old fools' tell him what to do. However, it is ironic that Pentheus' rejection of the advice of these 'old fools' proves to be his first step towards his fatal end.

'cradled young gazelles or wild wolf cubs in their arms and fed them at their full-blown breasts that brimmed with milk...struck a rock and water gushed from it as cool as mountain snow...drove a stick into the ground and wine came bubbling up....scratched the soil lightly with their fingers and white streams flowed, while from their ivy-crested wands sweet honey dripped like sparkling dew' (40-41).

Although the punishment may seem rather harsh, the audience is appeased by Pentheus' death. Pentheus is incapable of making any sensible decisions. His arrogance and controlling nature is apparent in every action and choice he makes. Pentheus rejects so many hints and opportunities to realize Dionysus' real identity. In his refusal to pick up the signals, he accepts his fate: death by the hands of his own mother. It is almost as if his death, through his refusal to act sensibly, is a form of suicide.

Dionysus, rather mercifully, gives Pentheus one last chance to save himself from his horrible fate. This opportunity comes when a herdsman returns from Mount Cithaeron delivering his eyewitness version of the events he encountered. He proclaims the women

The next scene brings Pentheus an

Some common words found in the essay are:
Mount Cithaeron, Pentheus Dionysus, Bacchae Euripedes, Dionysus Pentheus, Run Bacchic, Dionysus Teiresias, Thebes Exalt, God Why, Cadmus Pentheus, pentheus ignorant, Thebes Dionysus, ignorant stubborn, 'old fools', pentheus rejects, mount cithaeron, divine powers, pentheus ignorant stubborn,
Approximate Word count = 1032
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)