Cadmus Character Analysis in The Bacchae

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:

Disguise, Deception, and Identity Theme Icon

CADMUS
Are we the only men who'll dance for Dionysus?

TIRESIAS
The rest are blind. Only we can see.

Related Characters: Cadmus (speaker), Tiresias (speaker), Dionysus

Page Number and Citation: Lines 195-196

Explanation and Analysis:

The audience doesn’t learn much about the attitudes of the men of Thebes, apart from Cadmus, Tiresias, and Pentheus. Cadmus (the previous king) and Tiresias (a prophet) are clearly willing to pay tribute to Dionysus—in this early exchange, they’re both dressed in Dionysian outfits and are about to leave for Mount Cithaeron, where the rituals take place. An important undertone here, which wouldn’t have been lost on Greek audiences at the time, is that Tiresias is a blind prophet (also the result of some god-related turmoil). Despite being a mortal, he has the gift of “second sight”—an ability to see Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollit

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: Pentheus (speaker), Cadmus, Tiresias, Dionysus

Related Symbols: Thyrsus

Page Number and Citation: Lines 248-257

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, Pentheus notices his grandfather, Cadmus (the previous king of Thebes), and Tiresias, the blind prophet, dressed in Dionysian garbs. Pentheus is being patently cynical and ironic by calling them a “miracle,” and again is preoccupied with the phallic symbol (the thyrsus). This also sets up the question of irrationality and madness that runs throughout the play. Pentheus sees the two elderly men as mad for indulging in Dionysian rituals, especially given their age. As the play continues, the alternative viewpoint emerges—that Pentheus himself is the mad one, both for trying to deny Dionysus and for wanting to spy on Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. No

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.

Related Characters: Agave (speaker), Cadmus, Pentheus

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1231-1240

Explanation and Analysis:

These are Agave’s words as she appears on stage for the first time—previously the audience only encountered her through recounted stories from the messengers. This moment represents the height of the play’s tragedy, as Agave parades her own son’s head, deluded into thinking she has nobly killed a mountain lion. It’s at this point that audience has to really question the nature of Dionysus’ revenge, and whether it is a just punishment for denying his godliness. Agave displays hubris—an excessive belief in one’s own abilities or achievements—just to add further pain to the tragic events that have taken place. This Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur m

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.

Related Characters: Agave (speaker), Cadmus (speaker), Pentheus, Dionysus

Page Number and Citation: Lines 1292-1296

Explanation and Analysis:

Agave realizes her tragic mistake, and tries to piece together what has happened. She has been so deeply entranced by Dionysus that she remembers nothing, asking the audience to consider how much agency she has had throughout the play. It’s not easy to ascertain whether she has any true responsibility for her actions, or whether she has been a mere puppet for Dionysus to enact his particularly cruel revenge. Cadmus suggests that what she has been though constitutes a form of madness—but this contradicts the idea that mortals ought to follow the gods and pay them tribute. Agave has done Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperi

Cadmus Character Timeline in The Bacchae

The timeline below shows where the character Cadmus appears in The Bacchae. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Semele was the daughter of Cadmus, the elderly Theban who has given over the rule of the kingdom to his grandson,... (full context)

...dishonor his mother’s memory. They thought the story was just a ruse thought up by Cadmus because Semele had a scandalous affair with a mortal man. (full context)

Dionysus is angry with Pentheus, the king of Thebes and grandson of Cadmus, for disrespecting him by refusing to offer sacrifice or prayer in his honor. He says... (full context)

Tiresias, the elderly blind prophet, enters dressed as a Dionysian follower. He calls to Cadmus to come out of the palace and join him. Cadmus arrives and greets him warmly,... (full context)

Pentheus notices Cadmus and Tiresias and their Dionysian attire. He mocks them, and tells Cadmus he is ashamed... (full context)

Cadmus tells Pentheus that he needs to follow “customs and traditions.” He reasons that, even if... (full context)

Pentheus rejects Cadmus and Tiresias’ arguments, ordering his servants to capture the priest—actually Dionysus in disguise—who is leading... (full context)

Agave shows off the head before asking the whereabouts of Cadmus and Pentheus. Cadmus arrives with a servant carrying a “draped stretcher.” Cadmus has been searching... (full context)

Agave tells Cadmus that he should be proud of her and her sisters, given their skill at “hunting... (full context)

Cadmus tells Agave that her and her sisters aren’t hunters, but murderers. He says he pities... (full context)

Agave calls out for Pentheus, so he can witness “his mother’s good fortune.” Cadmus says that if she ever realizes what she’s done, then she will be driven mad.... (full context)

As Agave stares at the sky, she feels her “head is clearing.” She tells Cadmus she can’t remember what they were talking about. He asks her a series of questions... (full context)

Agave asks who killed Pentheus. Cadmus explains what happened—that Agave and her sisters are responsible. She doesn’t remember anything, not even... (full context)

Cadmus explains to Agave that Pentheus was made to suffer because “he refused the god.” He... (full context)

Dionysus appears, “revealed as a god.” He tells Cadmus that he and his wife, Harmonia, will be turned into snakes, “drawn by oxen in... (full context)

Cadmus pleads with Dionysus, asking “should not gods stand above all mortal passions, such as anger?”... (full context)

Agave embraces Cadmus, distraught that she must be exiled with him. Cadmus says he can’t help her. Agave... (full context)

Agave says “terrible is the ruin Lord Dionysus has visited on this house”; Cadmus says it’s their fault for dishonoring the god. They bid farewell to each other and... (full context)

Cadmus Character Analysis

Cadmus Quotes in The Bacchae

Lines 169 - 519 Quotes

Lines 1023 - 1392 Quotes

Cadmus Character Timeline in The Bacchae