The Bacchae Man and the Natural World Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used Paul Roche's translation.

Quote #10

"O Bacchus, bind us with bryony,
Crown us with ivy, and
Let every peak of Cithaeron ring
With the triumph of animal holiness." (309)

The Chorus prays to Dionysus to bind them with nature. They long for union with both the god and the wild animal forces he represents. We would ask, at what point can this be taken too far? If all of humanity through itself headlong into animalistic practices, wouldn't we lose what it is to be human? How do we find a balance between the two forces?