Role of the Chorus in Oedipus the King Essay - 1310 Words

What is the Role of the Chorus in Oedipus the King ? In answering this question, I will look at the question in two ways. Firstly, I will look at the role of the chorus objectively, examining the basic role of the chorus in the play, and looking at the role of the Chorus as Sophocles would have intended the role of the Chorus to be understood. However, I will then look at how I think the Greek audience would have perceived the role of the Chorus and then how the role of the Chorus is perceived today by a 20th century and examine the key differences in the two different sets of perceptions. Finally, I will look at the importance of the role of the Chorus to a 20th century audience and a Greek audience respectively.†¦show more content†¦The Chorus often speaks in this way at the end of a scene to clarify what has just gone on. (e.g. at the end of the first scene, the chorus clarifies the diseased state that the city of Thebes has descended into: Still breeding plague, unpitied infants lie...and wives and mothers, grey with hoary age...by every alter mourn.) Finally, the Chorus is used to keep the continuity during the play. In modern theatre, the plays are normally split up into scenes and acts. However, the Greek kept the continuity between these natural gaps, by having a narrative section. This prevented the necessity of having breaks in the action and also kept the audience up to date with what had just gone on, and perhaps offering some insight or other. In this role, I think the Chorus is very helpful to the audience, as it succeeds in keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. I think that in the play Oedipus, Sophocles intended the Chorus to be a constant significant part of the play, observing and reacting to situations, whilst never being the centre of attention during the main story, and only coming to the fore during the narrative passages of the play. However, in addressing the role of the Chorus in this play, I think it is vital that one decides whether the role of the Chorus is and objective role, inserted in to the play by Sophocles and unaffected by the audiences perception, or whether the role is subjective, and theShow MoreRelatedRoles And Function Of The Chorus Within Sophocles Oedipus The King1206 Words   |  5 PagesParrott Development of Western Civ October 27, 2015 Essay 1 As one examines the role and function of the chorus within Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, it is inevitable to find that the odes directly correlate to the story with great significance. 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