Pentheus vs. Dionysus

From Pentheus' point of view, Dionysus is merely an impostor--an effeminate charlatan from a foreign land who spends his time polluting women and girls.  Pentheus wants to bring Dionysus under the roof of the palace and decapitate him.  This is symbolic of his desire to bring him into the confines of society's rules and concepts.  Pentheus wants to classify Dionysus as a mortal woman and to capture him and constrain him as a woman was normally constrained.  Pentheus thinks that the Dionysian religion means that the women act like animals.  For him, the irrational nature of both makes women like animals and makes animals feminine.  Pentheus also thinks that Maenads actually serve the lust of men rather than the divine interests of Bacchus.  By claiming that the women adore Aphrodite, he attempts to demean Dionysus and deny him legitimacy.  Pentheus makes a big point of displaying civic authority.  He says the women will be "captured" and "hunted down". He also wants to destroy the place where Bacchus prophecies with a metaphorical earthquake.

When Dionysus is actually captured, he acts as a tame animal.  This could mean that Dionysus is purposefully trying not to be treated as an animal.  As Bacchus is captured, the women in the dungeons are freed (444-449).  Thus, his first miracle in Thebes is an act of liberation.   When Dionysus and Pentheus meet, Pentheus comments in detail about Dionysus' looks.  Dionysus is evasive in order to arose Pentheus' curiosity.  He does not reveal his rites, as only initiated women can know his religious rites.  Dionysus warns Pentheus and the other fools of Thebes not to enchain him .  Pentheus represents repressed sexuality and xenophobia, whereas Dionysus represents release of sexual power and is adored by foreigners.  Pentheus decides to punish Dionysus by removing his golden locks, making him surrender his wand and confining him in the palace (492-496).

One theme that comes up in the exchange between Dionysus and Pentheus (499-507) is the different between knowing and being ignorant.  Accusing Pentheus of blasphemous ignorance, Dionysus invokes the Greek concept of hubris while warning Pentheus. Metaphors of sight are used.  Blindness is associated with ignorance and sight is associated with knowledge.  Even though Pentheus knows who his parents are, Dionysus reminds him that Pentheus does not know who he himself (Pentheus) is!  Dionysus says that Pentheus will repent his name.  His name is from the greek penthos, which means grief.  Only after he knows grief and repents will he become himself.  This happens right before he dies at the hands of his mother while mobbed by Maenads.