Sophocles’ Oedipus the King presents the tragic story and life of the once highly acclaimed king named Oedipus. During the time the drama was produced, the Greeks were fascinated with the idea of a “tragic hero”—a man whose greatness and power eventually caused the downfall of the character. In Oedipus the King, the chorus served as one of the most important characters in relaying this ironic idea. The chorus was a specialized group of up to 50 men who danced and animated specific scenes during strategic pauses and is a standard character in all of ancient Greek theater. As Umit Singh Dhuga’s The American Journal of Philology aptly noted, the chorus has the “special capacity to be far from marginal to the action…and remarkably central to the
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Since the 50 men were considered jointly as one actor, the overall effectiveness of the group was vital in procuring the judge’s vote to actually present the play to an audience. In addition, the odes that the chorus sang during the strophe and antistrophe and these brief interludes provide the smooth transition between any two different scenes. The type of mask they wore fit and enhanced the drama’s atmosphere, and their movements and gestures were symbolic in transmitting the feeling and emotions of the play. Throughout Oedipus the King, the chorus developed its persona by functioning as the voice of the social group, becoming a guide for the audience, and emphasizing stability among the …show more content…
They link the play to humanity and often fill in the gaps of the drama when no other character has the capacity to do so. Without the chorus, this vital connection is lost. As Bernard Knox justly observes, the “complex images and elliptical transitions of tragedy’s choral lyrics were elements” that are integral in relaying the main concept of any Greek tragedy (Knox 208). By representing the voice of the citizens, acting as the mediator within the story, and directing the emotions of the viewers, authors like Sophocles were successful in transmitting their profound and subtle message to the
Since the 50 men were considered jointly as one actor, the overall effectiveness of the group was vital in procuring the judge’s vote to actually present the play to an audience. In addition, the odes that the chorus sang during the strophe and antistrophe and these brief interludes provide the smooth transition between any two different scenes. The type of mask they wore fit and enhanced the drama’s atmosphere, and their movements and gestures were symbolic in transmitting the feeling and emotions of the play. Throughout Oedipus the King, the chorus developed its persona by functioning as the voice of the social group, becoming a guide for the audience, and emphasizing stability among the …show more content…
They link the play to humanity and often fill in the gaps of the drama when no other character has the capacity to do so. Without the chorus, this vital connection is lost. As Bernard Knox justly observes, the “complex images and elliptical transitions of tragedy’s choral lyrics were elements” that are integral in relaying the main concept of any Greek tragedy (Knox 208). By representing the voice of the citizens, acting as the mediator within the story, and directing the emotions of the viewers, authors like Sophocles were successful in transmitting their profound and subtle message to the