A Comparison of Vengeance in Electra, The Bacchae and Frankenstein Essa

Vengeance in Electra, The Bacchae and Frankenstein In todays world, retaliation is still in existence, emit at a lower place our calm facade, waiting for the catalyst it needs to break loose. exhibit can be seen right now in the reactions of the American masses towards Bin Laden. He destroyed so m some(prenominal) lives, and now, there is in all likelihood not genius American that would not love to get their beautiful alone with him. The American people want to hurt him the way he and his followers hurt their fellow Americans, their family. This hunger for vengeance is completely Dionysian and is found in more than one written work. Electra is saturated with the Dionysian quest for vengeance that prevails also in The Bacchae. It is found again in Frankenstein, a work bubbling over with vengeful deaths. This Dionysian interest group for vengeance is carried surface on family offenders, whether they are of the family in question or not. Dionysus, a member of Cadmus famil y, causes the death of his cousin Pentheus. Pentheus commits a deadly misapprehension when he denies Dionysus as a god and attempts to capture him, thus invoking the peevishness of Dionysus. This is the same type of vengeance found in Electras family. In Electras family, if one commits a family offense, an unending cycle of the Dionysian principle of vengeance ensues vengeance takes precedent over family ties, thus forsaking them. With Victor Frankenstein and his monster, the principle is also at work, though it exists for each of them in response to the other. This principle is natural into Electras family long before her own tragedies transpire. It begins with the sons of Pelops and all of the adultery and murder a la mode that occur in that branch of Electras family history. However, this... ...al, is to strike out at those who seek or have harmed us, and to destroy them in any means possible. Rest assured that if any Americans are involved in the Bin Laden affair, that the thirst for vengeance on them will be overpowering. The Dionysian principle of vengeance is still very much alive, lurking below the surface, waiting for the justification it needs to break free. Works Cited C.K. Williams,The Bacchae Of Euripides (New Version)New York Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000 Sophocles Electra New York capital of Delaware Publications Inc., 1995 Mary Shelley, Frankenstein New York Dover Publications Inc., 1994 Bush Speaks From Oval Office http//multimedia.belointeractive.com/ onset/news/text0911.html Bin Laden Has Nowhere To Run - Nowhere To address, madblast.com The House of Atreus http//ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa110497.htm