Dionysus’s mortal mother, Semele, was not believed by the people of Thebes when she said she had a child with Zeus. King Pentheus thus forbade the worship of Dionysus in Thebes, and the Goddess Hera killed Semele for “lying.” 

Seeking revenge, Dionysus plots to disguise himself as a stranger and inspire madness in all the women of Thebes. 

Pentheus now finds himself threatened by Dionysus and the women (maenads) of Thebes. Amongst the mad women is his own mother, Agaue. Unconvinced of their divinely-caused insanity, he sees their drunken cavorting as an attempt to escape the legal codes regulating Theban society. Despite warnings from the prophet Teireseas and the former king, Cadmus, he orders his soldiers to arrest the stranger. Deviously, Dionysus allows himself to be easily arrested and taken to Pentheus with the others. In the first of three encounters, Dionysus begins the long process of trapping Pentheus and leading him to his death. 

Despite his rage, Pentheus cannot help but be drawn towards the handsome stranger. Dionysus takes note of Pentheus's interest and offers him an irresistible chance to see the maenads for himself, undetected. Pentheus, blinded by desire, agrees to do all Dionysus suggests, including dressing himself in a wig and long skirts. 

The women spot Pentheus in disguise easily. With rolling eyes and frenzied cries, they attack. As he dies, Pentheus reaches out for his mother's face and pleads with her to recognize her son. But Agaue, driven mad by Dionysus, proceeds to rip her son to death.

Agaue returns home with Pentheus's head in her hands. Still possessed by Dionysus, she is unaware she holds the head of her dead son, and boasts that she hunted a lion. Cadmus, who knows what has happened, sadly approaches his daughter and helps her realize what happened. In the end, Dionysus finally appears in his true form to the city. He declares that Cadmus will be turned into a snake and forces Agaue into exile.