Mythology - Greek and Roman

Mythology - Greek and Roman

Apollo and Oedipus vs. Dionysus and Pentheus

The distinction between Apollo's behavior as compared to the behavior of Dionysus could not be more striking in its difference and yet the impact of the two gods leave the king with which each god interacts in a similar and terrible state in the end of each play. Apollo, a god of illumination and prophecy was relatively distant as compared to the interactions of the god Dionysus with the Bacchae (worshippers of Dionysus). To be sure, the two gods displayed infinite power in their ability to direct destinies, influence events and shape outcomes but the methodology that they used was as different as are the two gods. Where Apollo used prophecy, revelation and inspiration to gain his ends, Dionysus used passion, domination and possession to affect the outcome he desired.

Apollo's interaction with Oedipus was much like that of seer and revelator. Apollo provided information through oracles and messengers to assure that his will was made known. In many ways he was above all of humanity in that he did not become soiled in the day-to-day events but was nonetheless centrally focused on the events of humanity through his various revelations and instructions. Like a master clock builder, Apollo constructed wheels that were set in motion by the actions of men. The wheels drove toward a particular outcome which was carefully designed. In this case, Oedipus was driven by pride to wind the massive gears of the Apollonian clock that ultimately proved his undoing.

Dionysus, on the other hand, destroyed two kings (Cadmus and Pentheus) with his revelry, passion and overwhelming desire to consume. The god masqueraded as a mortal priest who taught the rites of a new religion causing the passions of the women of Thebes to be swallowed up in the ecstasy of Dionysus. Pentheus lacked the age and wisdom to identify the circumstance and committed acts against Dionysus that he would never had attempted against a known god. The imprisonment and shorn locks of Dionysus served as enough evidence against young Pentheus that he was led to a situation wherein he was slain by the Maenads who tore the young king to pieces.

Oedipus Reacts to Bad News

It is perhaps an understatement to categorize the information that Oedipus received throughout the whole of the play as "bad news." With each new revelation Oedipus seemed to find himself guilty of greater sins and of placing not just his life in peril but his soul. Oedipus necessarily reacted violently and with deep emotion at each new revelation culminating with him using the broaches of his mother/wife to put out his own eyes. However, the act of gouging out his eyes was merely a representation of the true horror of what he had learned. Oedipus was consumed by the horror that he had not only destroyed his parents but was responsible for the future sorrow of his daughters. Oedipus was culpable for the agony that his children would undoubtedly experience throughout their entire lives. It is no wonder that in the end he wanted his ears to be closed that, like his eyes, would no longer bring him the ugly truth of the world he had created.