EXCERPT



In the historical context of Dionysus' myths and cult worship, as well as his appearances in modern literature, Dionysus' appearances spring to life at the moment all facades of ego-conscious reality breakdown. This reality is apparent whenever the archetype of Dionysus leaps forth from the subconscious on to the pages of literature. Although there is no literal appearance of the god by name in the novels discussed, what he stands for in the Greek myths smolders under the surface of these modern works. Physical ecstasy that dissolves the boundaries of individuation, madness that brings about unfathomable brutality, scathing attacks on the norms and mores of society, the plunge into, and re-emergence from, the darkest depths of one's own inner-being are all integral aspects of Dionysus in both Greek mythology and modern literature.

Even the greatest and most noted philosophers, psychoanalysts, and historians of Dionysus in some way miss the mark in attempting to fully explain his essence. Remarkably, in whatever words, theory, or style we frame Dionysus, at the core, fills the dark void of unknowing. He is that transcendental being that allows us to gaze upon the most horrific evils and ecstasies of mankind's own inner-self in the guise of a god. From Dionysian knowledge springs the strength to accept life as a communion of all being The myths of Dionysus and his re-emergence in modern literature illustrates the ceaseless drive of man to represent mankind's precarious existence aesthetically. Dionysus lives on as the embodiment of an ideal state of euphoric wonderment, as well as a nightmare of our deepest hidden horrors. The parallels between then and now in the representation of Dionysus lead us to an understanding of our own hidden hopes and fears.

Modern literature and modern man need the god Dionysus just as the ancient Greeks needed and worshipped him. In the six works discussed, Dionysus allows us to confront the depths of being psychologically. Dionysus, as he appears to modern man in the novels discussed, takes the individual to the edge of humanity and allows one to shine a light into the dark depths of the inner being where the rational mind cannot fully see. Just as Dionysian cult worship allowed the Greeks to shed all superficial facades in mad revelry, these modern works allow the same exploration in a psychological, rather than physical realm.

Finally, what Dionysus reveals to us through all epochs of time, in his many guises and forms, is that the paradoxical condition of mankind will never be fully understood by the limited capacities of the rational intellect alone. The essence of Dionysus' character lies at the extremes of existence, wonderful life and horrific death, and his images appear at the moments that all rational preconceptions breakdown. After all the facades of modernism are removed, the heights of ecstasy in Women in Love or the horrors of maddening brutality in The Heart of Darkness or "William Wilson" lead to the plaintive acceptance of the futility of the rational intellect fully to comprehend existence.

Mankind should take the example of Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea to heart in learning to balance the pulse of one's subconscious yearnings with the rational intellect and not let the ego-conscious mind utterly dominate life. Living life with verve, an appreciation for Nature, and a reverence for things beyond the materialistic world is possible, as Santiago so eloquently demonstrates. Otherwise when the shadowy subconscious does rise to conscious reality the incongruous and paradoxical nature of Dionysus will be a very disquieting encounter.

By opening oneself to the lessons Dionysus teaches in myth and modern literature, it allows the psyche to view life from a different perspective than the ego-conscious perceptions and elevates awareness of the immeasurable potentialities of existence. Dionysus humbles mankind, but it can be a healthy exercise for all humanity to realize our limitations and understand that life is paradoxical, beautiful, horrific, and mysterious all at the same time.

Dionysus, across all epochs of time, amazingly demonstrates that the willingness to explore the outer limits of existence leads to a deep wisdom that cannot be achieved by clinging to the comfort zones of social, religious, or rational intellectualism. Dionysus is revealed as the wondrous attempt by humanity to articulate the darkest reaches of our being that occasionally erupt to the surface of consciousness. Dionysus is such a wonderful being in the mythological world as well as in modern literature because he articulates the deepest depths of our subconscious and yet, leaves all with the understanding that there is more to explore beyond our own individual lives.

The final challenge is to not fall prey to the conceited notion of the modern intellect that all is well and all can be solved through the rational intellect. Through characters such as Hans Castorp, William Wilson, Gerald, Birkin, Ursula, and Marlow it is easy to see that living life completely behind the faade and safety of ego-conscious reality can lead to horrific destruction or a life of pathetic sterility devoid of emotion. At some point in life all of us will realize the limitations of the rational intellect. Whether it is at the moment of death when the self is dissolved or through a traumatic experience during life, at some point the knowledge of the Dionysian subconscious will be realized.

However, the experience need not be destructive. As Santiago so eloquently demonstrates, living life with one foot firmly grounded in society and the other foot exploring the deep depths of the subconscious is possible. The key is to realize and accept the fact that not all we say and do can be rationally explained away or synthesized into a neat category because life is not easily explained away or hypothesized in a religious doctrine or scientific textbook. Humility, a sense of wonder, and an appreciation of that realm beyond our five senses can lead one to a communion not only with mankind, but also with the Dionysian marvels of the subconscious.