Pentheus is punished by death and dies from the hands of his mother who thought he was a wild beats. Such death is very symbolic as it outlines that the will of god is higher than love of mother to son and god's punishment has no mercy to sinners: "What is wisdom? Or what fairer gift from the gods in men's eyes than to hold the hand of power over the head of one's enemies? And 'what is fair is always followed"(Euripides, The Bacchae) In the tragedy of Sophocles Antigone, another opposite case is presented as Antigone the niece of the king Creon demonstrates the actions which are worth admiration and respect
But because you said yes, all that you can do, for all your crown and your trappings, and your guards -- all that your can do is to have me killed." (Sophocles