The main conflict of the Bacchae revolves around the struggle between the established order of rationality and authority, represented by King Pentheus, and the primal instincts and chaos embodied by the god Dionysus and his followers. This clash highlights the tension between civilization and the untamed forces of nature and human desire.
Pentheus, the king of Thebes, embodies logic and control as he refuses to accept the divinity of Dionysus, who has returned to assert his influence and garner followers. Dionysus seeks to expose Pentheus’s hubris and the limitations of his rational worldview. The conflict escalates as Pentheus attempts to suppress the worship of Dionysus, leading to tragic consequences that unravel both his authority and identity.
Ultimately, the play illustrates the dangers of denying one’s innate instincts and the consequences of ignoring the divine and untamed aspects of life, making the struggle between order and chaos a rich and timeless theme.