In most stories there is no such thing as a group of people who sing about the current situation at hand in the story. Usually you do not see a third party involved that reacts to the problems at hand. But there is in the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles. The author Sophocles uses the chorus to set the mood of the play. The chorus is very impactful because it describes the fear and joy of the citizens at Thebes. It is definitely an important aspect of the play. In the beginning of the play Oedipus is told about the oracle’s message on how to get rid of the plague on Thebes. He is told that the only solution is to find the murderer who killed the old King named Laius. Oedipus the hero quickly agrees to the find the murder for the sake of …show more content…
But his wife Jocasta urges him not to go on further in fear that he will not be able to handle the truth. The chorus echoes his thoughts about his demand in finding out who he truly is. When Oedipus finds out the truth that he killed his father and married his mother everything goes downhill. The prophecy that he tried so hard to resist ended up coming true. Of course the concession is right there with him when he finds out this truth. They sing about disbelief and sadness over this tragedy that came upon their beloved king. To them their Oedipus is a perfect example of a bless-less man that will live in misery for the rest of his life (Sophocles 496). This shows the sorrow and anguish that the citizens have for the king upon knowing of this unfortunate …show more content…
While he is on his way the chorus intervenes once more to express their feelings. They begin to question why of all people did this have to happen to him. Through the questioning they become curious about several things regarding the situation. But seeing the image before their eyes they fear to act on that curiosity (Sophocles 499). The groups of people serve as a companion through his dark terrible journey to exile for the last time. The irony of the situation was all along Oedipus was the one who was blind to everything and not the blind prophet Tiresias. In conclusion, the chorus was very much needed in the play Oedipus the King. It served as the main gateway into the citizens feelings regarding the problems. Even though the chorus was subtle in the play it played an important role. I think stories should include something similar to concessions. It can bring a better insight about the story from someone who witnesses everything
(l.131)” In a desperate situation to save. his city, Oedipus focuses on Laios’ murder, consequently beginning the play with the mystery of, “Who killed King Laios?” To help him in his. quest, Oedipus calls for the blind prophet Teiresias to use his powers.
The idea that the people speak with a unified voice is seen whenever they speak. Never does one individual stray from this one voice. This is seen in the Strophes and Antistrophes, the choir speaks as a whole. At the start of the, the choir shows unquestioning faith in Oedipus. They believe that he is godly, that since he ended the Sphinx’s reign of terror, that he would stop the plague. They believed this without question, they had no doubts that Oedipus would find a cure. They even came to Oedipus with “olive boughs all wreathed in woe,'; the same way one would go to a altar when they wanted something urgently. This shows their faith in Oedipus.
In the beginning of the text, an explanation is presented of how Thebes must “drive out a killer” in order to purge the city of the plague (99). Oedipus sets on a quest that includes Tiresias’s baffling words. Tiresias confronts Oedipus with [Oedipus’s] truth by revealing he is the murderer of Laius and “pollutes the land” (352). Oedipus is also bound by Apollo’s prophecy; his [Oedipus] fate is sealed (377). Oedipus displays his denial by refusing that he is the murderer and placing the blame on Creon.
In modern theatres today we do not have a chorus, as it would obscure the view of the play and maybe set the wrong atmosphere as modern audiences are less willing to suspend their disbelief and want things to be as realistic.
Few people think of detective work in regard to “Oedipus the King”, but this play builds on riddles solved, and unsolved, making it to be a mystery. Oedipus starts out as an optimistic individual who is in charge of a cold case proclaiming that he is going to solve the mystery of the murder of King Laius, in order to life the plague from his city Thebes. The people
Oedipus is the head investigator for the murder of King Laius. Even though he tells the people of Thebes that, "I am ready to help." He promises the people that he would do anything t...
The beginning of the play opens up with the dilemma of the plague as explained before. Creon, Oedipus's brother in-law (which turns out to be his uncle), comes from the oracle with the advice to end the plague. He explains the previous leader, Laius, had been murdered, and they haven't found the murderer. More importantly, was the way Oedipus handled the situation. He
The Chorus’s speech is rather long and is not directed towards anyone in particular. At the start of the play, the Chorus starts in full support of Oedipus. They held him in high esteem saw him as the great king who came to save Thebes. At this point in the play, we just found out that Oedipus’ prophecy had come true. Therefore the Chorus has started questioning its views of Oedipus. It did this by first stating all the reasons for why the Chorus was so infatuated with Oedipus before. It only saw the perfect and admirable side to him and fell head over heals into full support of him. It stated,
In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, the audience is able to gain a deeper understanding of Oedipus’ downfall due to the context provided by the chorus. Through its own wavering faith in the Gods, the chorus is able to explain and add meaning to Oedipus the King that would not otherwise be evident. Further, the chorus’ explanation allows Sophocles to expose his goal in writing the play, giving the reader a unique perspective into the true cause of Oedipus’ downfall. Therefore, it is strictly the chorus that enables the reader to realize that the true cause of the plague is not a murderer but a crisis in faith.
Poor Oedipus discovers that he had killed his father and married his mother at the climax of the play when the Shepard is questioned. He states "I stand revealed at last - cursed in my birth, cursed in marriage, cursed in the lives I cut down with these hands!"³ He then finds his mother after she has committed suicide and proceeds to gouge out his own eyes with her brooches.
The play is divided into three parts. This is very logical. In The first part we have the problem and the accusation of Creon. In part two we have the discovery of the truth. At the end of the play we find the truth and the consequences of it. Oedipus admits his blindness, feels ashamed and is pious.
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 in the 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.
The Chorus is very much an important part of Euripedes’ Medea, and indeed many other works written in the ancient Greek style. In this play, it follows the journey Medea makes, and not only narrates, but commentates on what is happening. Euripedes uses the Chorus as a literary device to raise certain issues, and to influence where the sympathies of the audience lie.
The role of the Chorus in the Shakespeare's play, Henry V, is significant. Due to the subject matter that the play deals with, it is hard to present in the way that it deserves. The Chorus helps the audience follow the play by helping them to picture things as they were through the use of imagery. It uses descriptive language in describing events that take place in the play. The Chorus also helps in making the plot of the play flow together better by filling the time lapses that occur between acts due to the fact that the event being depicted in only a few hours actually occurred over several years, leaving some gaps between events. It also explains what happens in an act beforehand because the scenes switch around from place to place, and it can get confusing. The most important function of the Chorus is that it encourages the audience to be patient and reminds them to use their imagination to envision the events that occur in the play, to really imagine the royal courts of England and France, and to really imagine the battle scenes with all the horses and men.
Aristotle’s fifth point was that of Melody. The Chorus should “be regarded as one of the actors; it should be an integral part of the whole, and share in the action”. In Shakespeare’s works there is often singing in the beginning, or interludes during the performance.