Euripides presents an ambiguous view on Pentheus and his treatment throughout the play. The play is sprinkled with conflicting views, contrasts of character and opposition, most prominently between Pentheus and Dionysus. There is even a duality in the character of Dionysus himself; Euripides splits the god between mortal and divine. On the one hand, Dionysus is calm and attractive and on the other hand the divine form of Dionysus Euripides creates speaks from offstage, is obstinate, curt and ruthless. These different viewpoints of the god cause the reader to change their opinion on Pentheus' fate according to how Dionysus is drawn.

Dionysus arrives in Thebes seeking revenge on his mother Semele's family (the Royal family) for not believing she was pregnant with the child of Zeus - Dionysus. We know that he has sent Theban women to mount Cithaeron to worship him in madness; this tells us that...