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Oedipus Rex: Role of Chorus
Greek tragedy is said to develop itself from the group of dancers and singers whoused to partake in the worship of various gods. According to Aristotle the Chorusshould be like one of the characters. Gradually the role of the Chorus becameless and less important in classical tragedy, until in Roman tragedy the speechesof the Chorus were supposed to be made in between the acts.Chorus discharges some broad functions in all classical tragedies. The structureof a Greek tragedy is determined by the Chorus. After the prologue, it is with theentry of the Chorus that a Greek tragedy begins. Various episodes are alsomarked off by choric odes. The conclusion of a Greek tragedy occurs with theexode or the exit song of the Chorus. It is the function of the Chorus to commenton actions and events. It also sometimes questions the characters. Its standardrole is that of the moderator. At times it represents the view-point of the commonspectator and in some cases it represents the view-point of the dramatist himself.
The functions of the Chorus are very well performed in Oedipus Rex. In the veryfirst ode the Chorus depicts the horror of the plague and expresses anapprehension about the message from the oracle of Delphi. Other odes commenton the action that has taken place after the last ode and build an atmosphereappropriate to that stage of the play. It plays the role of a peace-maker betweenthe king and Creon and succeeds in getting the king’s pardon for the latter. After the exit of Teiresias it comments on the terrible predictions which Teiresias hasmade but shows determination to support the king. Its most significant responseis when Oedipus and Jocasta have expressed irreverent thoughts against theoracles. At many other times also they reflect the dominant mood and help todeepen it. When Oedipus imagines that he is the son of the goodness of luck, theChorus, immediately sing that their master, Oedipus, might be the son of Apollo.In the fifth or last choric ode in Oedipus Rex, the Chorus reflects the dejection of Oedipus and says that all the generations of moral man add up to nothing. Thisode must not be regarded as reflecting the final mood and impression of the play,for the impression is as much of the greatness of the human spirit as of theinsignificance of man and the transitoriness of his happiness. This ode must,therefore, be looked upon only as reflecting a final judgment of it. Oedipusremains forceful even in his downfall; in a sense he is still heroic.
The Chorus takes part in the dialogues also. When Oedipus consults them aboutending the plague in the city, they express disappointment that the oracle had notguided them about the identity of Laius’ murderer. They also tell him what theyknow about the murder of their previous king and its circumstances. WhenCreon, learning that the king has accused him of treason, comes on the stage hetalks to the Chorus, who tell him that the king’s accusation was probably made inthe heat of anger. Creon asked if the king looked absolutely serious while makingthe charge and they rightly say that it is not for them to look into the eyes of hismaster when he speaks. When Oedipus has almost passed a sentence uponCreon, Jocasta arrives on the scene and first talks to the Chorus. They requesther to settle the difference between the two men. They are worried when theysee Jocasta going into the palace in a very dejected mood, and they giveexpression to their apprehension. Oedipus asks them about the shepherd whogave the infant to the Corinthian, they answer that his queen would be able toanswer the question better. They sympathize with Oedipus when they see himafter he has blinded himself. It is clear, thus, that the Chorus never takes a directhand in the action. It does not consist only of spectators but influences the actionin various subtle ways.The contribution of the Chorus in Oedipus Rex is considerable. They link the playwith common humanity. In some sense they are often in the position of the idealspectator. They fill in the gaps in the action when no other character is there onthe stage. They add to it the element of melody which must have been one of theattractions of Greek tragedy. They provide an appropriate shift between thetitanic, heroic figure of Oedipus and the mass of common humanity representedby the two shepherds in Oedipus Res. The tragedy of Oedipus and its relevanceto common life is very well stressed by the Chorus in its exit ode or exode.
Greek tragedy is said to develop itself from the group of dancers and singers whoused to partake in the worship of various gods. According to Aristotle the Chorusshould be like one of the characters. Gradually the role of the Chorus becameless and less important in classical tragedy, until in Roman tragedy the speechesof the Chorus were supposed to be made in between the acts.Chorus discharges some broad functions in all classical tragedies. The structureof a Greek tragedy is determined by the Chorus. After the prologue, it is with theentry of the Chorus that a Greek tragedy begins. Various episodes are alsomarked off by choric odes. The conclusion of a Greek tragedy occurs with theexode or the exit song of the Chorus. It is the function of the Chorus to commenton actions and events. It also sometimes questions the characters. Its standardrole is that of the moderator. At times it represents the view-point of the commonspectator and in some cases it represents the view-point of the dramatist himself.
The functions of the Chorus are very well performed in Oedipus Rex. In the veryfirst ode the Chorus depicts the horror of the plague and expresses anapprehension about the message from the oracle of Delphi. Other odes commenton the action that has taken place after the last ode and build an atmosphereappropriate to that stage of the play. It plays the role of a peace-maker betweenthe king and Creon and succeeds in getting the king’s pardon for the latter. After the exit of Teiresias it comments on the terrible predictions which Teiresias hasmade but shows determination to support the king. Its most significant responseis when Oedipus and Jocasta have expressed irreverent thoughts against theoracles. At many other times also they reflect the dominant mood and help todeepen it. When Oedipus imagines that he is the son of the goodness of luck, theChorus, immediately sing that their master, Oedipus, might be the son of Apollo.In the fifth or last choric ode in Oedipus Rex, the Chorus reflects the dejection of Oedipus and says that all the generations of moral man add up to nothing. Thisode must not be regarded as reflecting the final mood and impression of the play,for the impression is as much of the greatness of the human spirit as of theinsignificance of man and the transitoriness of his happiness. This ode must,therefore, be looked upon only as reflecting a final judgment of it. Oedipusremains forceful even in his downfall; in a sense he is still heroic.
The Chorus takes part in the dialogues also. When Oedipus consults them aboutending the plague in the city, they express disappointment that the oracle had notguided them about the identity of Laius’ murderer. They also tell him what theyknow about the murder of their previous king and its circumstances. WhenCreon, learning that the king has accused him of treason, comes on the stage hetalks to the Chorus, who tell him that the king’s accusation was probably made inthe heat of anger. Creon asked if the king looked absolutely serious while makingthe charge and they rightly say that it is not for them to look into the eyes of hismaster when he speaks. When Oedipus has almost passed a sentence uponCreon, Jocasta arrives on the scene and first talks to the Chorus. They requesther to settle the difference between the two men. They are worried when theysee Jocasta going into the palace in a very dejected mood, and they giveexpression to their apprehension. Oedipus asks them about the shepherd whogave the infant to the Corinthian, they answer that his queen would be able toanswer the question better. They sympathize with Oedipus when they see himafter he has blinded himself. It is clear, thus, that the Chorus never takes a directhand in the action. It does not consist only of spectators but influences the actionin various subtle ways.The contribution of the Chorus in Oedipus Rex is considerable. They link the playwith common humanity. In some sense they are often in the position of the idealspectator. They fill in the gaps in the action when no other character is there onthe stage. They add to it the element of melody which must have been one of theattractions of Greek tragedy. They provide an appropriate shift between thetitanic, heroic figure of Oedipus and the mass of common humanity representedby the two shepherds in Oedipus Res. The tragedy of Oedipus and its relevanceto common life is very well stressed by the Chorus in its exit ode or exode.
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