The Chorus played an integral role in conveying the plot and meaning of Ancient Greek Theatre to the audience by highlighting and portraying the social perception and consequences of the characters’ actions and fates. In Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex the Chorus’ allegiance and admiration towards and Oedipus and the Gods shifts throughout the play. The Chorus’ steadily changing loyalty deepens the audience’s understanding of the play by contextualizing the plot and exemplifying the themes present in it. Three of the most prominent of these varying perspectives are the Chorus’ initial reverence and loyalty to Oedipus, the doubt and conflicting loyalty between Oedipus and the Gods and finally, the Chorus’ renewed belief in the Gods and their pity
…show more content…
This show of reverence and praise emphasizes Oedipus’ original standing and status to the audience; adding context which allows the audience to truly understand the fall of Oedipus. In this scene, Oedipus is shown to come out of his palace and asks of the Chorus what is wrong, a Priest speaks for the others and begs Oedipus to come to the aid of the city “Oh Oedipus, king of the land, our greatest power!”(14), the Priest goes on in his praise of Oedipus, even stating “We do rate you first of men”(41). The praise Oedipus receives is incomparable in its exaltation and commendation of Oedipus’ achievements and stature. The diction of the praise is very definite and adamant in its description of Oedipus; the use of words such as “greatest” and “first” emphasizes the certainty of the Chorus that Oedipus is their saviour and that he has the power to end the plague. Also, the pleading tone of the Priest’s words adds more emphasis and credibility to the praise. The use of exclamation marks and the structure of the phrases; to first state Oedipus’ standing and then the addition of compliments on top of it, and the overall begging of the Chorus helps to cast the impression that Oedipus is as close to a god a human can get and that he has more power and glory than all in the land. The praise of Oedipus by the Chorus greatly accentuates the original authority and …show more content…
The Chorus’ abandonment of Oedipus and renewed faith in the Gods implies to the audience that prophecy is unchangeable and inescapable; which allows the audience to further understand the true origin of Oedipus’ fall and why he could not avoid it. After the Messenger tells the Chorus of Jocasta’s suicide he proceeds to tell them about Oedipus gouging out his eyes and his excruciating pain to which the Chorus Leader replies “Oh poor man, the misery- has he any rest from pain now?”(1420-1421). The tone of the Leader’s reply is not one of contempt or spite but of sympathy and worry; as if Oedipus’ fall was not a fault of his own but instead something beyond his control. After Oedipus steps out of the palace to show himself to the city the Chorus cries “What god, what dark power leapt beyond all bounds, beyond belief, to crush your wretched life?-godforsaken, cursed by the gods!” (1435-1438). The tone of this statement is one of fear and shock, implying the Chorus’ disbelief that any human could be driven to such extents without the influence of some other worldly force. Moreover, the imagery in this quote “what dark power leapt beyond all bounds, beyond belief”(1436-1437) also alludes to some mystic and unnatural power as it states that it leapt beyond all bounds and beyond belief, implying that this
This show of reverence and praise emphasizes Oedipus’ original standing and status to the audience; adding context which allows the audience to truly understand the fall of Oedipus. In this scene, Oedipus is shown to come out of his palace and asks of the Chorus what is wrong, a Priest speaks for the others and begs Oedipus to come to the aid of the city “Oh Oedipus, king of the land, our greatest power!”(14), the Priest goes on in his praise of Oedipus, even stating “We do rate you first of men”(41). The praise Oedipus receives is incomparable in its exaltation and commendation of Oedipus’ achievements and stature. The diction of the praise is very definite and adamant in its description of Oedipus; the use of words such as “greatest” and “first” emphasizes the certainty of the Chorus that Oedipus is their saviour and that he has the power to end the plague. Also, the pleading tone of the Priest’s words adds more emphasis and credibility to the praise. The use of exclamation marks and the structure of the phrases; to first state Oedipus’ standing and then the addition of compliments on top of it, and the overall begging of the Chorus helps to cast the impression that Oedipus is as close to a god a human can get and that he has more power and glory than all in the land. The praise of Oedipus by the Chorus greatly accentuates the original authority and …show more content…
The Chorus’ abandonment of Oedipus and renewed faith in the Gods implies to the audience that prophecy is unchangeable and inescapable; which allows the audience to further understand the true origin of Oedipus’ fall and why he could not avoid it. After the Messenger tells the Chorus of Jocasta’s suicide he proceeds to tell them about Oedipus gouging out his eyes and his excruciating pain to which the Chorus Leader replies “Oh poor man, the misery- has he any rest from pain now?”(1420-1421). The tone of the Leader’s reply is not one of contempt or spite but of sympathy and worry; as if Oedipus’ fall was not a fault of his own but instead something beyond his control. After Oedipus steps out of the palace to show himself to the city the Chorus cries “What god, what dark power leapt beyond all bounds, beyond belief, to crush your wretched life?-godforsaken, cursed by the gods!” (1435-1438). The tone of this statement is one of fear and shock, implying the Chorus’ disbelief that any human could be driven to such extents without the influence of some other worldly force. Moreover, the imagery in this quote “what dark power leapt beyond all bounds, beyond belief”(1436-1437) also alludes to some mystic and unnatural power as it states that it leapt beyond all bounds and beyond belief, implying that this