The gods’ roles in relation to humans are similar in both The Bacchae and Hippolytus, but those plays differ from the gods’ roles in Oedipus Rex. In both The Bacchae and Hippolytus, the opening monologue is a god, within the city, discussing their plans for the protagonist, Pentheus and Hippolytus, respectively. In The Bacchae, Dionysus opens the play, stating “I am Dionysus, the son of Zeus…” (ll.1). He continues his monologue, discussing his anger towards …showed first 75 words of 694 total…

…showed last 75 words of 694 total…of sexuality between Agave and Pentheus when Agave kills him. When killing Pentheus, Agave is described as “foaming at the mouth,…her crazed eyes rolling with frenzy” (ll. 22-23). She is so consumed by violence that it is almost passionate in nature, especially in the fact that she is enjoying ripping his body apart so much. While it happens both directly and indirectly, the mothers in all three plays are related to their sons’ murders.