The Tragedy of Orpheus and the Maenads (and A Young Poet's Elegy to the Court of God)

The story centers on Orpheus, a grieving poet-king who isolates himself in nature after losing his wife, Eurydice, to the Underworld. Despite Apollo's pleas to return to his former life and share heroic tales, Orpheus remains steadfast in his sorrow. His rejection of Dionysus and the Maenads, who seek to draw him into their wild revelry, leads to a tragic confrontation. Dionysus, angered by Orpheus's disdain, orchestrates a revenge that transcends the original myth, exploring themes of loss, obsession, and the consequences of defiance.