Pentheus uses his tone and emphasis to show he follows passion versus reason on his disapproval of Dionysus, or Bacchus. Pentheus is reflecting on the recent news coming from his town in his recent absence, that the women have left everything behind to go to the mountain and worship a God that Pentheus does not respect or believe to be a real God, Dionysus. Pentheus references that the women worship “this brand-new god Dionysus, whoever that is; they’re dancing for him! … Priestesses they call themselves! Maenads! (219-224)” His use of emphasis and his distasteful tone on the word “him” shows his outrage and contempt towards Dionysus and his influence over the women. His tone, reflected in the exclamation points, shows his disbelief at the
