Robert W. Chambers’ work, the King in Yellow, presents a mysterious figure of terrifying power and portent whose maddening influence is imparted through a play. This figure is the titular King in Yellow. While a feature of a late Victorian work, the character of the King in Yellow bears a number of features and associations in common with a much more ancient figure, that of the ancient Greek god Dionysus. The King in Yellow is Dionysus, or at least one side of Dionysus.