Chapter summaries A Game of Gods Scarlett St. Clair

Chapter XXXIII: Dionysus – Rescue, Trickery, and a Brutal Betrayal

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Dionysus climbs the mountain to search for Ariadne, who was taken by the cyclops. An old god (likely a stranger) reveals the cyclops’ lair lies across a strait guarded by Charybdis and Scylla. Despite the warning, Dionysus swims through the strait, narrowly avoiding the whirlpool and fighting off Scylla’s six heads. After reaching the cyclops’ island, a sheep leads him to a cave where he finds Ariadne, guarded by an ophiotaurus she calls Bully. Dionysus calms the creature, then tricks the cyclops (Polyphemus) by turning a lake into wine, getting the giant drunk and unconscious. He reunites with Ariadne, but Theseus arrives with two men. Theseus kills Bully, cuts out its intestines (a source of power), stabs Dionysus, and is himself stabbed before fleeing with his men. Hermes transports the couple to Hades’ office. Dionysus informs Hades that Theseus has slain the ophiotaurus.

Key Events

  • Dionysus climbs the mountain, fighting the urge to succumb to madness.
  • The old god tells Dionysus the cyclops lair is across a dangerous strait.
  • Dionysus swims through the strait, survives Scylla and Charybdis.
  • He follows a sheep to the cyclops’ cave, finds Ariadne with the ophiotaurus.
  • Dionysus tricks Polyphemus with wine; the cyclops falls unconscious.
  • Theseus appears, kills the ophiotaurus, and takes its intestines.
  • Theseus stabs Dionysus; Dionysus stabs Theseus in return.
  • Hermes transports them to Hades’ office.
  • Dionysus informs Hades of Theseus’s deed.

Character Development

  • Dionysus: Shows vulnerability (fear of losing Ariadne, struggle against madness), resourcefulness (using wine as a weapon), and protective ferocity (threatening Theseus). His hesitation to call Ariadne “my” reveals his emotional uncertainty.
  • Ariadne: Displays loyalty and empathy by naming the ophiotaurus Bully and grieving its death. She confronts Theseus with raw anger (“Fuck you!”).
  • Theseus: Confirmed as manipulative and cruel. He deliberately provokes Ariadne, kills the creature for its intestines, and shows obsession with her. His slow healing hints at a weakness.
  • The Ophiotaurus (Bully): A sympathetic monster; protective of Ariadne and killed in a brutal ritual.
  • Polyphemus: Naive and lonely cyclops, easily tricked by the promise of wine.
  • Hades: Brief appearance; his comment about kneeling suggests authority and a dry sense of humor.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Madness versus control: Dionysus fights the “familiar and dreadful shuddering” of madness, representing his internal struggle to stay focused for Ariadne’s sake.
  • Trickery and transformation: Turning water to wine echoes Odysseus’s trick but also demonstrates Dionysus’s godly power; the wine becomes both a gift and a trap.
  • Monstrosity and humanity: The ophiotaurus is a “monster” that protects; Theseus, a human, commits the most monstrous act. The line between hero and villain blurs.
  • Sacrifice and loss: The death of Bully for its intestines (a source of divine power) underscores the cost of ambition.
  • Strait as obstacle: The journey through Scylla and Charybdis symbolizes facing impossible choices; Dionysus chooses the monster he can fight over the one that drowns.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point. Dionysus’s successful rescue shows his growth from reluctant hero to determined protector. Theseus’s betrayal escalates the conflict: by slaying the ophiotaurus, he gains a weapon to challenge the gods. The chapter also deepens the romance between Dionysus and Ariadne while introducing a new threat that will drive the remainder of the story. The final scene in Hades’ office suggests that the gods will now be forced to act.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Dionysus hesitate to call Ariadne “my” when speaking to the old man?

Dionysus is uncertain of his relationship with Ariadne. He cares deeply for her but has not fully claimed her as his partner, either out of fear of vulnerability or because they have not defined their bond. The hesitation shows his emotional growth and insecurity.

2. What does Theseus’s killing of the ophiotaurus represent in the larger mythic context?

In Greek mythology, the ophiotaurus’s entrails confer the power to defeat gods. Theseus’s act symbolizes his ambition to overthrow the Olympian order. It also mirrors his cruel nature: he kills a creature that posed no threat to him, just to obtain power.

3. How does Dionysus’s approach to the cyclops Polyphemus differ from Odysseus’s in Homer’s Odyssey?

Both use wine to trick the cyclops. However, Odysseus blinds Polyphemus and escapes, while Dionysus uses kindness (“friend,” offering of wine) to gain trust before incapacitating him. Dionysus does not harm Polyphemus; he prioritizes rescuing Ariadne over revenge or escape.

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