I believe the chorus is a very effective device of Greek drama in both comedic and tragic genres due to their role in creating humour/tragedy, presenting the parabasis and their commentary/scene setting.
The chorus plays a large part in creating comedy, namely in Aristophanes’ ‘Frogs’. The subsidiary chorus of frogs that appears in the prologue is very visually funny. The well-funded (by the choregos) chorus would have been dressed elaborately and realistically in frog costumes which would have created surreal humour, causing the audience to laugh. It is through the vehicle of this subsidiary chorus that we also see the play’s first agon between themselves and Dionysus. Whilst also a crucial and important dramatic technique, this agon would have created comedy because we see a great god of theatre struggling to beat his opponents of mere frogs. In a way, this ridicules the god and creates humour as a result of his atypical presentation. Aristophanes also utilises verbal humour through the chorus’ ‘brekekek coax coax’ line which is repeated to mimic the sound of a frog. Therefore, the chorus is used very effectively by Aristophanes to create humour.
Euripides also uses his maenadic chorus in ‘Bacchae’ effectively as he uses them as the perpetrators in the plays, arguably, most tragic event. It is the chorus, that consists of Persian women, Agave and Ino – who have been sent maenadically mad by Dionysus- that carry out the murder of the tragic hero Pentheus. By including the chorus so greatly in this pivotal and climatic scene, Euripides is using them effectively as he links them closely to the action/plot, making them vehicles for the genre of tragedy. The playwright’s inclusion of Agave, mother to Pentheus, and Ino, aunt, in the killing is greatly effective because part of the reason the tragedy is so great is because it is performed by Pentheus’ close family members – and therefore Euripides’ use of the chorus is effective.
Aristophanes and other comedic playwrights, also uses the chorus effectively through the parabasis. This section of the play involves the chorus directly addressing the audience, through the playwright’s voice, on contemporary matters of importance. In ‘Frogs’ the coryphaeus (chorus leader) notes how citizens should be treated equally, all have rights, and should consist of slaves that fought in naval battles (such as the 406B.C. Battle of Arginusae). He also states that Athens’ contemporaneous leaders are alike to base-metalled, copper topped coins and should be removed from authority because of this. In this way, Aristophanes uses the chorus effectively to promote his own political ideas in an attempt to persuade/influence the polis who makes up the audience.
Lastly, Sophocles also uses the chorus effectively in ‘Oedipus the King’ as they offer commentary on the action and provide relevant context to the plot. Marion Baldock suggests that Sophocles’ chorus become a fourth actor due to their close commentary on the action, and I strongly agree with her. The chorus of Theban elders both champion their king and pity his fate, whilst also acting as moral guides to the audience. This is an effective use of the chorus by Sophocles as he makes them influence the audience’s perceptions on both the characters and the action. It is also the chorus who tell the audience how Oedipus overcame the riddle of the Sphinx which again, raises the character in their estimations. This is an effective use of the chorus by Sophocles because he makes them make Oedipus appear greater, thus making his downfall worse and thus perpetuating the genre of tragedy.
In conclusion I in fact believe that the chorus are the most effective device used by Greek playwrights in both comedy and tragedy.
*This essay originally received the mark of 20/20.*
HiSZtory 