Euripides Role Of The Chorus Analysis

In the Athenian play, Medea, Euripides explores the role of the Chorus and how their ongoing interactions with Medea influence and enhance the audience’s understanding and perception of Medea and her choices. The homogenous Chorus was a widely used technique in Ancient Greek theatre to bridge the gap between the audience’s thoughts and the performers’ actions, and for Medea, Euripides uses the naïve Chorus to observe and comment on characters' behaviours and actions, guiding the thoughts of the audience. Euripides’ placement of the Chorus ultimately details how they will interact with and judge Medea’s actions. Additionally, through mythical allusion and changes in tone, the Chorus’ evolving feelings and interactions through the Introduction …show more content…
The Chorus frequently appeals to the gods and nature through passionate scenes such as Episode I and the Conclusion, suggesting Euripides’ uses these familiar allusions to enable the audience to further understand Medea’s state of mind, situation and actions. The Chorus is ultimately led by the gods and the “laws of human life”, and moreover, the Chorus believes and reminds the audience that Medea is supported by the gods, trusting that “Zeus will plead [her] cause”. In the Parados, Medea cries for vindication from “mighty Themis!”, the goddess of justice, and “Dread Artemis”, goddess of chastity, the hunt, and the natural environment. By calling out these goddesses, Medea is calling for their guidance, as well as crying out for revenge and justification over Jason’s actions. Additionally, Medea and the Chorus frequently call for “great Zeus”, more commonly than other gods. Zeus is seen as the superior god, ruler of humankind, and good and evil. This repetition could suggest that Medea is calling for Zeus to continually protect her and oversee her changing deceitful plans. Overall, for Euripides’ to use the highly respected Gods and Goddesses, further encourages the audience to support Medea through her search for justice. Additionally Medea is a descendant from the “Sun God” and with the sun being seen as universally powerful with regenerative powers, enhances Medea’s perception. With Medea’s divine heritage, the audience is increasingly likely to follow Medea. However, in the conclusion, the change in gods significantly contrasts with the Parados and Episode I, emphasising the Chorus’ horror of Medea’s choices and the evolution of their relationship, with the Chorus’ abandonment of support for Medea. This tonal shift between Medea’s vulnerability to her violent passion and subsequent actions,