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As you have learned, Greek drama evolved from the ritualistic performances of a chorus at the Dionysian festivals. After the actor Thespis stepped out of the chorus and began a dialogue with it, other characters soon followed, and the chorus role gradually diminished in size (from fifty members to fifteen) and importance. Playwrights kept the chorus as a significant element in their dramas, but its functions were necessarily more limited. Robinson Jeffers, who translated Medea, has also retained the chorus, but has modified its mature slightly. Instead of having it speak in unison, he has assigned speeches to individual members.
Nevertheless, the chorus still plays a prominent part and fills the traditional functions of a chorus in Greek tragedy. Many of these functions were merely technical. For example, the chorus often announced the entrances and exits of characters or foreshadowed events in the action. It also recounted or interpreted past events for the purpose of clarifying the plot. These functions aided the movement of the story. First off, when the chorus was introduced into a play, one of its functions was to announce the entrances and exits of characters.
This happened in many places of the story. The characters that the chorus took on were the first woman, second and third woman. All of them introduced new characters in order to move the play along smoothly. Such as in 1. 29 when second woman and third woman introduce Creon when he arrives on the scene to talk to Medea.
Medea beware! Some great person is coming. It is Creon himself! And, Creon is coming. These two examples clearly show how the chorus introduce the entrances of characters in the play. Or when on 1. 256, when the women introduce the entrance of Jason, Medea's husband.
Look: who is coming? I see the sunlight glitter on lance heads, says the first woman. Then the second woman states Oh, it is Jason! these statements also show that chorus members introduce the entrances of characters. Also, the chorus recounted or interpreted past events in order to clarify the plot. Such as when first woman on 1. 53 says I hear her crying again: it is dreadful meaning that Medea has been hurt or wronged in some way.
Or how first and second woman talk about Medea's powers and life. They say she is dangerous. , or She is a witch, but not evil. She can make old men young again. Or when third woman says All the people of her country are witches. They know about drugs and magic. They are savages but they have a wild wisdom.
All of these quotes can be found on 1: 88 - 90. These quotes show how powerful and dangerous Medea can be. You better not make her mad (or betray her). All this shows that the chorus does help set the plot for the readers better understanding. In conclusion, when the chorus is used in a play, it has many meaningful functions like restating past events in order to clarify the plot, or introducing the entrances and exits of characters in the play. Both of these functions help make the play seem smooth and help the reader to understand the play better.
The chorus had evolved and changed from a ritualistic performances to shows and plays with dialogues. The chorus may have a small speaking part, but without them, it wouldnt be the same.
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Research essay sample on Characters In The Play Past Events
