Role of Chorus in Oedipus Rex

The chorus was the central feature of Greek drama. Composed of similarly costumed
men, they performed on the dancing floor ("orchestra"), located beneath the stage.
The chorus stayed in the orchestra for the duration of the performance from which
vantage point they observed and commented on the action of the actors. Dialogue
consisted of long, formal speeches in verse. Choral training was the responsibility of a
chorus leader [technical term to learn: choregus], selected by an archon, one of the top
officials in Athens.
in Oedipus Rex, the chorus of the classical Greek theater would consist of
representative citizens of the society which the drama was supposed to represent.
Through the dramatic performance, they would occupy the central circular place called
orchestra. The Chorus would not only act as spectators and careful Observers but also
as, commentators of the dramatic procedure. It took the issue of the changing situations
and developments, and expressed its comments mostly in the form of songs that were
called odes. The Chorus used to be allowed its say at the moment of acute need. When
the spectators would feel uncertainty of the situation, the Chorus guided them with the
appropriate kind of feelings and attitude towards the events in the theater.
The basic role of the chorus in Oedipus Rex is to sing comments about the ongoing
situations in the drama. This chorus, which consists of a group of mature old Theban
people, which is highly reliable, as commentators, serves to make significant dramatic
commentary that guides the audience's response from the beginning to the end of the
plot. The functions of the chorus in this play can be categorized into five headings:
1) mediating, 2) evaluating, 3) foreboding, 4) guiding, and 5) dramatizing.
1.. They mediate in terms of space and in terms of understanding. Because the scene
(stage) was too far away from the seeing place, the chorus had to play the role of
coming in between the two places and making the audience overhear them more easily.
They sang aloud commenting on the dramatic actions and situations moving towards
the audience and going round the orchestra (their dancing place in between the stage

and the stadium). But besides filling the gap of space, they also came in between
(mediated) the audience in terms of understanding. Because the Greek audience should
have been simple people, the chorus had to comment and make explicit certain things
and themes that developed in the dramatic world. The simple audience would be able to
understand the dramatic world more easily with the help of the choric commentary.
2. Another important role of the chorus was to comment and evaluate the incidents and
developments, characters and themes of the drama. In the present drama, the chorus
comments on the fall of Oedipus, on his greatness, on his weakness, and in general in
the destiny and frailty of man. Without their comments, the drama would have lost much
of the meaning and perspective that Sophocles wanted to convey to his audience.
Besides, the commentary creates appropriate mood and atmosphere of the play.
3. The chorus usually seems to suggest what is going to happen next, thereby
suggesting to us to get ready and accept things as they happen. We feel that the chorus
is a fully reliable group of wise old men, and even think that they can know the future or
the truth of anything. But, we see that they are changing and learning, much like
ourselves
4. The chorus also plays the role of guiding our emotions, response, and our
understanding. They express the appropriate kind of feeling whenever any important
development or discovery takes place in the world of the characters.
5. The chorus also dramatizes the process of the drama. They help the characters
prepare by letting some time pass. This also allows the audience to prepare themselves
for the next scene. But, most importantly, the chorus dramatizes their own development.
They sometimes think and doubt, wish and expect the wrong. They are much like us, as
they are undergoing the process of being educated and enlightened by the experience
of the reality of life. In the beginning they only express some faith in the gods, but they
disbelieve and even disregard the prophecy of Teiresias by saying that "these evil words
are lies". Then they begin to fear the law of the gods and express that fear, warning us
also that the disobedience of the divine laws brings about doom. In the third ode, they
express a false wish that Oedipus were the son of the gods, but they do emphasize that
we can never see the future. At last, they fully change and purify themselves directing

our process of change also. In the fourth ode, they finally realize the ultimate reality that
fate rules us absolutely. They pity and fear the plight of Oedipus, and they help us have
the catharsis. Their comment is thematic and it dramatizes the full development of their
growth: they are now enlightened. That embodies the dramatic effect intended for the
audience also.
The functions of the Chorus are very well performed in Oedipus Rex. In the very first
ode the Chorus depicts the horror of the plague and expresses an apprehension about
the message from the oracle of Delphi. Other odes comment on the action that has
taken place after the last ode and build an atmosphere appropriate to that stage of the
play. It plays the role of a peace-maker between the king and Creon and succeeds in
getting the kings pardon for the latter. After the exit of Teiresias it comments on the
terrible predictions which Teiresias has made but shows determination to support the
king. Its most significant response is when Oedipus and Jocasta have expressed
irreverent thoughts against the oracles. At many other times also they reflect the
dominant mood and help to deepen it. When Oedipus imagines that he is the son of the
goodness of luck, the Chorus, immediately sing that their master, Oedipus, might be the
son of Apollo. So all in all, chorus has an important role in drama and it has importance
like soul in body.

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