The Bacchae: First Episode: Tiresias and Cadmus Prepare for the Rites
The recap, key beats, and evidence for First Episode: Tiresias and Cadmus Prepare for the Rites, without reopening the whole book.
Section recap · 2 min read
What happens in First Episode: Tiresias and Cadmus Prepare for the Rites.
The blind prophet Tiresias and Cadmus, the elderly founder of Thebes and grandfather of both Dionysus and Pentheus, meet outside the palace. Both old men have dressed in Bacchic costume and plan to go worship Dionysus on the mountain. When Pentheus arrives and sees them, he is furious. Tiresias defends Dionysus with a philosophical argument. Cadmus tries a more political approach, urging Pentheus to go along with the worship for the family's sake.
The beats worth remembering.
Two old men in Bacchic dress
Tiresias and Cadmus appear in fawn skins and carrying the thyrsos. The image is deliberately strange. Two of the most respected men in Thebes have joined the god's followers, which should give Pentheus pause.
Tiresias defends Dionysus rationally
The prophet argues that Dionysus is a legitimate god who provides wine as a gift to humanity. He tries to fit Dionysus into an acceptable framework. His argument is reasonable but Pentheus ignores it completely.
Cadmus appeals to family loyalty
Cadmus does not argue theology. He tells Pentheus it would be good for the family's reputation if Dionysus were honored as a god, even if they are not sure. His pragmatism is a contrast to both Tiresias's reason and Pentheus's rage.
The moments you can actually use later.
Tiresias's theological defense
Tiresias argues that Dionysus, as the god of wine, gives humans relief from suffering and is therefore as necessary as Demeter, who provides grain. He places Dionysus within the existing divine order.
Cadmus's pragmatic plea
Cadmus tells Pentheus that even if Dionysus is not truly a god, it costs nothing to say he is, and the family benefits from having a divine member. His reasoning is entirely self-interested.
What to carry forward.
Pentheus rejects every form of persuasion
He gets rational argument from Tiresias and political advice from Cadmus. He dismisses both. This tells you that his resistance to Dionysus is not about logic. It is about control.
Tiresias's speech is the play's best case for Dionysus
If you need to argue that Dionysus deserves worship, this scene gives you the material. Tiresias frames wine and ecstasy as necessary parts of human life, not just excess.
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How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.