Springfield College
Library Services
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109-3739
This essay will be discussing the parallels between the character of Julian Morrow and the Greek God, Dionysus. In the play The Bacchae by Euripides, Dionysus seeks revenge on Pentheus. He disguises himself as a human and gathers a group of women (the Bacchae) who perform Dionysian rituals. Pentheus is tricked into spying on the Bacchae, which leads to him being caught and brutally killed by his own mother. Similar to this play, the main characters of The Secret History perform a Bacchanal which results in the death of a farmer. However, in this novel the incident of the bacchanal is instigated and supported by Professor Julian Morrow. This leads to the question, "How similar is Julian to Dionysus?” and “Are the tragic events that take place in this novel his fault?” I begin by discussing what Dionysus and Julian embody and represent. Both Dionysus and Julian possess great power and influence over those who follow them. While Dionysus’ way of leading is very chaotic and Julian’s teaching techniques are orderly, both characters lead their followers to tragedy and demise. I’ll be paying attention to the interaction between Henry and Julian in which he says something along the lines of “do whatever is necessary,” in what readers later come to find out was in referral to the Bacchanal. I will also be focusing on Henry’s newly found feeling of freedom and carefreeness after killing the farmer. By honing on these similarities between a Greek God and complex character from Donna Tartt’s novel, readers will have a greater understanding of Julian Morrow and the happenings of The Secret History.
Springfield College
Library Services
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109-3739