Synopsis 

The play starts out with Dionysus walking out of Semele's tomb, talking about how the people of Thebes (Petheus in particular) makes out to be outcast and that they don't respect his godhood.  He goes on to talk about his travels and his accomplishments. After his speech, the herdsman  and the slave leader emerges drunk and talking about the festivities about to take place; primarily the ritual flogging. They wonder if the man who will be flogged will die, but according to the rites, someone must die to cleanse the putrefication of the old year. A procession passes by, watched silently by Dionysus himself and the man who is to be flogged is brought- Tiresias. One lash brings him to his knees in pain. Dionysus then emerges and everyone is frightened by the sheer magnificence of the god. Dionysus tries to calm them and he tells them to be happy and dance, As they do, Dionysus slips. The slaves who were flogging Tiresias are brought out of their stupor and go to help Tiresias who is livid about how hard he was lashed. They apologize for they didn't know how hard they were flogging him and now they don't know what to do. Still angry, Tiresias tells the slaves to follow the rest of the group dancing in the mountains. While searching for his thrysus, Dionysus reemerges and gives him his; he is surprised that Tiresias can recognize him. Tiresias tells him why he was chosen to be the flagellate (a favor to Cadmus) and how he knows what is going to happen concerning Dionysus, Pentheus and Thebes. Dionysus' tells him to cheer up and dance; Tiresias obeys and dances, much to do the surprise of Cadmus who has walked up behind him. Cadmus is surprised at Tiresias' new outlook on life; Tiresias tells him to listen to the sound of force that has changed his life. Out of nowhere, a band of Bacchanates appear dancing and singing the praises of Dionysus (they invoke him under the name of Bromius) The slave leader comes back out and is asked by the Bacchanates if he knows the god. Together, they all sing the praises of Dionysus which grew in momentum; their ecstasy in invoking the god growing to orgasmic heights. Suddenly the Bacchanates pounce on the slave leader preparing to tear him apart. Slaves come out and drags him to safety.  Tiresias and Cadmus comes out of hiding, both dressed in the garbs of Dionysus' followers. Tiresias' warns Cadmus of his grandson's folly in persecuting Dionysus. As the two dance, Pentheus appears, livid at the impertinence of this new god of wine. As he vents in anger, he notices Tiresias and Cadmus dressed as Bacchanates and dancing. Angered and shamed, he yells at them, telling them that they are disgracing himself. Tiresias warns him, telling him to changed his ways and embrace the ways of Dionysus. His pleas fall of deaf ears and a cold heart. Dionysus is then brought in captive by Pentheus' officers. The officers inform Pentheus that although his female followers have all escaped their bonds and are in the mountains, they did manage to catch Dionysus who was surprisingly docile and passive towards his captives. Pentheus begins his inquisition, asking him questions about his birth, his parents, birthplace and all the places he has been. Even more angered, Pentheus shears of his long locks of hair, takes away his thyrsus, places chains all over him and commands he be locked. As he is sent away, slaves and bacchanates come out invoking Dionysus and summoning his chaotic powers of nature. Dionysus escapes and appears in front of Pentheus who is extremely surprised. Dionysus informs him that it was the power of his "god" that set him free. The herdsman comes back from the mountains and tells Pentheus of the strange things he saw; mad woman dressed in fawn-skin with snakes for belts racing through the forest, uprooting trees, suckling fawns and wolf-cubs and making water and milk appear from stones and the ground. They ransacked Kithairon, weapons not being able to stop them and the men ran away scared. Pentheus plans a campaign to fight and destroy the Bacchanates, whom he views as alien sub-human animals. Dionysus sets his plan into motion; he says he can bring the Bacchanates to him but Pentheus believes this to be a trap. Dionysus places Pentheus under hypnosis and in his dream state, he sees a ethereal wedding festival and a man almost resembling Jesus Christ. Dionysus gives Pentheus a cup of wine, increasing his dream-like state. He then dresses Pentheus as a Bacchanate while making Pentheus believe that he has on his armor, ready for war and his thyrsus a sword for killing. Dionysus sends Pentheus on his way and then he prepares his Bacchanates for the "hunt." A few Bacchanates and slaves re-enact the hunt. Their play-acting is disturbed when the Officers comes informs them that  Pentheus is dead, torn to death by the hands of his mother, Agave, and the Bacchanates believing they were killing a mountain lion. Agave and the Bacchanates come back from  their hunt in triumph; she shows off her prize, the head of Pentheus on top of a thyrsus. The old slave tries to tell Agave what she did subtly, but to avail. Cadmus and Tiresias emerge with the wrapped remains of Pentheus. In anguish, Cadmus tells Agave what she did, telling her to move away the ribbons on the thyrsus see what is really on top. In horror, she sees that it is her son. He takes the head off, placing on a fountain. Suddenly the spirit of Dionysus flows throughout the scene and blood sprays out of the orifices of Pentheus' head. On further inspection they see that is actually wine. All go up and drink the wine, allowing the spirit of Dionysus fill them. Finally there is a sense of peace, tranquility and closure.