Discussion Topic
The role and contributions of the chorus in Antigone
Summary:
The chorus in Antigone serves several roles, including providing background information, reflecting the public opinion, and commenting on the actions and events of the play. They help to convey the moral and thematic messages, guide the audience's responses, and bridge the gap between the characters and the viewers.
What is the role of the chorus in Antigone?
In Antigone by Sophocles, the Chorus, which consists of a group of Theban elders who are advisers to King Creon, performs three important roles. First, they provide information about what takes place offstage, filling in backstory or action that is necessary for the audience to understand the plot. For example, at the beginning of the play, they explain the battle that recently took place, where Eteocles and Polynices, Antigone's brothers, faced off for control of the city of Thebes and ended up killing each other. They introduce Creon as the new king.
The second role of the Chorus is to stand in for the audience, providing the response that the playwright intends the audience to have to the unfolding drama. Thus, at the beginning of the play, the elders are firmly on the side of Creon, expounding on the right of kings to make and enforce...
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law. But as Antigone and Haemon make their arguments, the Chorus begins to waver. When Tiresias arrives and reveals the anger of the gods toward Creon's decree that Polynices should not be buried, the Chorus swings fully over to Antigone's side. At the end of the play, the Chorus wails, "Ah me, how all too late thou seemest to see the right!" This voices the feelings of the audience at the tragedies that have befallen Creon because of his pride.
Finally, the Chorus allows the playwright to show off the beauty of his language in lyrical odes. The Chorus recites several impressive odes, including the "Ode to Man" and the "Ode to Zeus," which display Sophocles's prowess as a poet. This elevated diction rewards the audience with a sophisticated level of entertainment that they can find nowhere else.
In Antigone, Sophocles makes effective use of the Chorus as a narrator, a stand-in for the audience, and a showcase for his poetic language.
The purpose of the chorus in Ancient Greek drama is to represent the perspective of ordinary people. It generally conveys the conventional wisdom of the time and represents the kind of common sense that the main characters don't typically show because they are so carried away in the extremes of their emotional experiences. The chorus' reactions also demonstrate the effect that the behavior of royal and noble characters has on the people that they rule or have control over. In this way, the audience members, who are not all royal or noble, can see how the events of the play might potentially relate to their own lives. Those who are of a higher class and are watching the play might also be brought to think about how their actions and experiences affect those over whom they have political control. Thus, the chorus serves as a device to prompt reflection in the audience.
In ancient Greek drama, the chorus is a group that comments collectively on the play's action and context. The role of the chorus is to provide information not revealed in dialogue, such as context within mythology, narration, and the characters' thoughts.
In Antigone, the chorus consists of Theban elders. They provide background information connecting Antigone's story to other myths and comment on the play's action. The chorus in Antigone even participates in the action of the play occasionally; for example, at one point Creon consults them and they provide their support for his decision, although they later oppose Creon when he considers punishing Ismene. The play closes with a monologue by the Theban elders about how the gods' punishment can bring wisdom.
How does the chorus assist Creon in Antigone?
As is customary in Greek drama, the chorus in Antigone provides a running commentary on events. As part of that commentary, the chorus frequently urges Creon to do the right thing and to stop being so stubborn and show leniency towards Antigone. At the same time, the chorus also tries to shake Antigone out of her own stubbornness. In this way, the chorus acts almost as an intermediary between Creon and Antigone, hoping through their interventions to affect some kind of reconciliation between them.
In relation to Creon, the chorus thinks it is doing him a favor by reminding him of Tiresias's accuracy of a prophet. The chorus is loyal to Creon and genuinely wants to help him do the right thing by himself and his community. Unfortunately, the chorus's sound advice is ignored, as Creon is simply too stubborn and full of overweening pride to back down. Therefore, Creon goes on as before, refusing to budge an inch in his epic battle of wills with Antigone—until it's too late.
What is the function of the Chorus in Anouilh's "Antigone"?
The Chorus is ancient Greece provided necesarry information to the audience, and often worked as the conscience of the characters. The Chorus in this version of Antigone serves as the voice of the playwrite herself. It allows Anouilh to present her story in a specific way, which forces the audience to understand it in that way.
The Chorus does this by introducing the characters, and telling the audience what their traits are and their importance is. The audience can not be allowed to interpret for themselves - that might change the understanding of the play. The Chorus also provides a dialogue on the nature of tragedy itself so that the audience understands why things are happening in the way they are.
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How does the chorus contribute to the action in Antigone?
In Sophocles's play Antigone, scenes between the principal actors are separated by brief interludes from the chorus. On a practical level, the chorus dialogue allowed time for the three main actors to change costumes behind the scenes. However, Sophocles also designed the chorus to serve as a living encyclopedia for the viewer; it frequently references mythological works or other plays that Sophocles wants to draw parallels to throughout Antigone.
The chorus is not, however, completely detached from the action of the story itself. In Antigone, Sophocles has designated the chorus to be composed of elderly Theban men. This places them firmly within the context of the central events; they always follow the rule and desires of the ruler Creon. As the play progresses, however, the chorus begins to express divergent thought, most notably as it relates to Creon's decision to sentence Antigone to death for giving Polynices a proper burial. The chorus gives voice to the viewer's own discomfort with this harsh decision, and eventually the chorus is able to convince Creon to change his mind on the matter.
In this way, Sophocles has given the chorus a unique role in Antigone. While it serves to provide historical and mythological context to the viewer, it also directly intervenes in the central action of the plot.
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