True Blood: Maryann the Maenad, What is a Maenad?

Who is Maryann , and what is a Maenad (often spelled Maenid) ? True Blood's big curve ball at the end of season one was an overly nice , rich woman who wanted to take care of people for no good reason , other than "to help". It is widely believed (pretty much accepted by all) that this is Maryann the Maenad. She and her crazy pig move into Bon Temps , Louisiana and make nice with Tara. True Blood has got themselves a handful!

So what is a Maenad? A Maenad was the female follower of of Dionysus, the most significant members of the Thiasus, the retinue of Dionysus. The term maenad literally translates to "frenzied woman". When maenads are depicted (whether it be on kilts or ancient drawings) they are portrayed in scenes that show them in a frenzy running in the forests, often tearing to pieces any animal they happen to come across. You can't control a maenad and their powers are stronger than one typically expects.

Typically maenads feed off intoxication and become wild themselves, tearing animals and sometimes men and children apart . They often behave in wild sexual exploits while in this "zone". Maenads can come across as beautiful sexual, inviting beings, which is what is so misleading about them. True Blood took Maryann from the series of books by Charlaine Harris. I am glad they kept this particular part of the Southern Vampire Series in True blood.

So Maryann, you are one whacked out sister. I can't imagine the dynamic she is going to bring to the show because she acts as if she is very familiar with our favorite bar owner, Sam Merlotte . In the book series this situation with a maenad and Sam is played out differently, and we are led to (SPOILER WARNING BEEP BEEP STOP HERE) ............... believe they are very intertwined in sexual a relationship that they both enjoy quite a bit. She often requires sacrifices of some sort (or a type of "gift") when she comes into an area and when she gets it, she's more than happy to leave and take her havoc wreaking ways with her. That could definitely play into this situation and turn some tides in Bon Temps. The end of season one of True Blood led me to believe that Sam wasn't into Maryann , unlike the books led you to beleive.

So there we have it, before season 2 of True Blood starts we now know what a maenad is and Maryann's potential hazard to our town of Bon Temps, and sweet Sookie Stackhouse.