(This image was created by the artist Cameron Gray)
Warning. This post contains spoilers regarding Frenzy by Percival Everett.
I have wondered since the beginning of our class reading of Frenzy by Percival Everett, what is the nature of Dionysos’s power? Is it a power that manipulates people and makes them do things that they would never dream of doing (let us refer to this situation as X) or if it simply lowers inhibitions, and allows people to do what they would do if social pressures and rules did not prevent them from doing so (let us refer to this situation as Y). In both situations, Dionysos is using his godly influence, that I am fairly certain of, but before I delve further into my idea I wish to acknowledge a counter-argument. I think some would argue that X and Y are one and the same, to that I would counter that I think there is a small vein of difference between the two— although I think that there is a possibility that in a way both are true, but that’s a post for another day. With situation X, Dionysos would be using an exterior influence to make people do what they would never even think of doing before he decided to use his power on them, making them act and do things that never would cross their minds ordinarily. Whereas with situation Y, Dionysos would be severely encouraging (through the use of his powers) people to do what they already wanted to do but never really had the courage to do before. This may seem like a strange hair to split but I think that it is an interesting one. For if the second were true, it would make a lot of sense— Dionysos is after all the god of wine and alcohol is famous for chipping away at a person’s inhibitions.
If I am correct in thinking that Dionysos’s power is that he, essentially, heightens (for lack of a better word) the effects of alcohol, what does this mean? I think that it would change the entire impact of the novel for me and possibly for others. While reading Frenzy I could not justify the way in which Dionysos denied all accountability for his actions and the indifference he had for the people he hurt. Yet, if situation Y is true then I might understand Dionysos a bit better. For example, at one point in Frenzy Dionysos’s influence causes a village to riot and ends in the death of a kind old man at the hands of the villagers and the death of the old man’s daughter [Everett 128-129]. Dionysos rejects all accusations of possible blame. Velpo says to Dionysos, “You let him [the old man] die” and Dionysos responds, “Yes…but…I did not kill him.”[Everett 130]. Here Dionysos is shifting the blame for the old man’s death, implying that he did not himself raise the axe (so to speak) thus he is not to blame. If situation X is not true then this would just be a cocky god carelessly arguing semantics. If situation Y is true then, well, Dionysos response would seem a lot less annoying and far more philosophical adding an interesting depth to his character.
Although I have no real conclusion to this post, the whole thought experiment surrounding it helped me in realizing the real power of interpretation and how it can affect one’s judgment. The writing of this post made me wonder, how often do false interpretations and misinterpretations happen? How often do humans miscommunicate and misunderstand, one another and situations, like this? I do not know, but honestly, I find the idea of us humans not understanding one another in this way often, pretty scary. That being said, my only real conclusion is that I think it’s important for individuals to bear in mind when communicating, the dire ways in which one’s interpretations of actions and use of language affect an other’s understanding of situations and one’s self in social interactions, etc. As a result of this, I personally, want to attempt to be more conscientious when conversing with others and learn to recognize more readily how my interpretation of other’s actions and situations, are just that—interpretations. Now, it is up to you dear reader, to do what you will with this reflection.
Everett, Percival. Frenzy. Saint Paul, Graywolf Press, 1997.