In the story of Bacchus and the sailors, featured in Metamorphoses III, what image do we get of the god Bacchus?

The most striking image that Ovid creates of the god is one of a cruel exactor of divine justice. His transformation of the sailors into dolphins is one of many examples where mortals are stripped of their humanity as a punishment for the their hubris. This image is particularly important in the wider context of Met. 3, with this anecdote being used as a precautionary tale and a foreshadowing of the 'transformation' that Pentheus will undergo.However, we do also see that Ovid has created an image of the god that is far more three dimensional than it may first appear. Bacchus can be seen as playful, even childish, taking on the role of a trickster god, as well as a divine avenger. He pretends to be unaware of the sailors' deceit and seems to take some kind of pleasure from the spectacle he is creating. The phantom creatures he summons up are, in a sense, an example of the god's impish sense of humour, as all they add to the scene is more enjoyment for him, and for the reader. With this being said, it is worth noting that Bacchus takes pity on the innocent Acoetes, and thus, the image of Bacchus as cruel and manipulative is somewhat softened. However, the image that Ovid creates is most definitely not one of a benevolent god.