The Power of Patriarchy: Everett’s Work on the Dionysus Myth in Frenzy

Abstract

This interpretation of Percival Everett's novel Frenzy focuses on the author's rewriting of the myth of Dionysus and other Greek myths referenced in the text, as it is through the revisions of classical versions of the myths that Everett expresses his social criticism. In order to understand the character of the main protagonist Dionysos, the article also discusses Everett's appropriation of The Bacchae by Euripides, in particular of the English translation by C.K. Williams as well as the author's drawing on the Nietzschean concepts of the Dionysian and the Apollonian. Finally, the analysis of major literary devices (narrative structure, first-person narrator, leitmotif of seeing, elements of humor) reveals various strategies Everett uses to incline readers to grapple with the severe critique of patriarchy and capitalism he offers.

Keywords

• Dionysus myth
• rewriting of myths
• patriarchy
• capitalism