The Bacchae in the Morning Papers

The Bacchae holding the severed torso of Pentheus

I saw a terrific student production of The Bacchae up at Ithaca College this past weekend. It’s my favorite play, which should only surprise you if you haven’t read my book No Applause, in which I refer to it several times. Only at its most superficial level is it a play about the role of pleasure in our lives. Its political and anthropological wisdom hit me once again this morning when contemplating the news (and the awful pictures) of the capture and execution of Moammar Khadafy.

Was there ever a more loathsome, despicable insect? Plenty have had more blood on their hands, but one has little doubt that he merely envied their greater resources and initiative. They were his heroes.  One only regrets that Khadafy didn’t leave this earth decades ago.

And yet, I must confess that I do not find the mob who hunted and shot him like a dog in any way preferable. Nor do I approve of publishing photographs of such scenes and relishing them.

The tyrant or the mob? Ye gods, what a crappy choice! How rare and few are the moments in history when the majority of humankind aren’t under the thumb of one or the other. Cherish every day of your health, safety and freedom. It happens to be the exception in nature rather than the rule.