Second Episode Summary

In this first of three confrontations between Dionysus and Pentheus, a soldier brings Dionysus to the palace. The soldier is ashamed, he says, because the 'stranger' came so willingly. The soldier also informs his king that the women have already been set free from their prison, so this man seems to cause miracles.

Pentheus begins to question his prisoner and becomes enraged when he cannot understand the answers. Dionysus says, more than once, that the god is now before Pentheus, but the king is only more confused by his words. The king still thinks he has the power in this conversation. Pentheus thinks he is only dealing with a cult leader and issues orders to lock up Dionysus. Pentheus also says that he will sell the women as slaves or keep them as servants, spinning at the loom, to quiet their...