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Pentheus
Cadmus is the father of Semele, Agave, Ino and Autonoe; the grandfather of Dionysus and Pentheus; and the former king of Thebes. Due to his old age, he gave his kingship to Pentheus. Cadmus differs from Pentheus in that he believes the Thebans ought to worship Dionysus just in case he is a god, not because he’s necessarily an especially devout believer. Furthermore, he thinks association with a god would bring prestige to the family name. At the end of the play, Cadmus heartbreakingly reveals to Agave that she has killed her own son, and tries to piece together Pentheus’ severed body parts. At Dionysus’ order, Cadmus is banished with his wife, Hermia. They are to be transformed into snakes, and must eventually return to Greece leading a horde of barbarians. Although they will attack the wrong shrine, the gods will deliver them from danger and bring them to the “Land of the Blessed.”
Cadmus Quotes in The Bacchae
The The Bacchae quotes below are all either spoken by Cadmus or refer to Cadmus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 169 - 519
Quotes
CADMUS
Are we the only men who'll dance for Dionysus?
TIRESIAS
The rest are blind. Only we can see.
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And here's another miracle! The prophet Tiresias
all got up in fawn skin, and my mother's father
dressed up as a Bacchant with a wand.
You look ridiculous, both of you: have you lost your wits?
I'm ashamed of you, Grandfather.
Shake off that ivy and drop that bloody stick!
This is your doing, Tiresias, I can tell:
another imported god, another chance
to make money on the side from burnt offerings
and reading auguries from the guts of birds.
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Lines 1023 - 1392
Quotes
Father, you have the right to make the proudest boast,
for you have sired the bravest daughters in the world.
And of us all, I am the foremost:
leaving the shuttle and loom for bigger things –
hunting animals with my bare hands.
As you can see, I have a trophy for our house,
to hang here on the wall.
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AGAVE
Cithaeron? But why was Pentheus there?
CADMUS
He went to mock the gods, and your rituals.
AGAVE
But we—why were we there?
CADMUS
You were out of your wits.
The whole city was possessed by Bacchus.
AGAVE
I see. Dionysus has destroyed us all.
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Cadmus Quotes in The Bacchae
The The Bacchae quotes below are all either spoken by Cadmus or refer to Cadmus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 169 - 519
Quotes
CADMUS
Are we the only men who'll dance for Dionysus?
TIRESIAS
The rest are blind. Only we can see.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
And here's another miracle! The prophet Tiresias
all got up in fawn skin, and my mother's father
dressed up as a Bacchant with a wand.
You look ridiculous, both of you: have you lost your wits?
I'm ashamed of you, Grandfather.
Shake off that ivy and drop that bloody stick!
This is your doing, Tiresias, I can tell:
another imported god, another chance
to make money on the side from burnt offerings
and reading auguries from the guts of birds.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 1023 - 1392
Quotes
Father, you have the right to make the proudest boast,
for you have sired the bravest daughters in the world.
And of us all, I am the foremost:
leaving the shuttle and loom for bigger things –
hunting animals with my bare hands.
As you can see, I have a trophy for our house,
to hang here on the wall.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
AGAVE
Cithaeron? But why was Pentheus there?
CADMUS
He went to mock the gods, and your rituals.
AGAVE
But we—why were we there?
CADMUS
You were out of your wits.
The whole city was possessed by Bacchus.
AGAVE
I see. Dionysus has destroyed us all.
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