What Was the Purpose of the Chorus in Greek Theatre?

Greek Theatre|Theater

The Chorus was a key element of ancient Greek theatre, and it had a variety of purposes. The Chorus consisted of a group of people, usually between twelve and fifty in number, often dressed in costumes that matched the theme of the play. The Chorus was used to comment on and interact with the characters onstage, adding a layer of spectacle and drama to the performance.

The primary purpose of the Chorus was to provide commentary and impart moral lessons throughout the play. The words spoken by the Chorus were known as choral odes or stasimons, which were songs or hymns composed by poets specifically for use in plays.

These odes often contained moral messages that related to the story being told onstage. For example, in Euripides’s “The Bacchae”, the Chorus sings an ode about how Dionysus will always triumph over those who oppose him.

The Chorus also served an important role in advancing the plot by providing exposition about characters’ backgrounds or about events that occurred prior to the beginning of the play. In Sophocles’s “Oedipus Rex”, for example, it is through conversations with the Chorus that Oedipus discovers his true identity as King Laius’s son. The Chorus could also be used to provide comic relief during tense moments or lulls in action.

In addition to its narrative and moral functions, the Chorus was also an important source of entertainment for audiences; its music and dancing provided lighthearted fun during performances of otherwise dark and serious plays.

Finally, it is important to note that while each individual member of a chorus had little control over what happened onstage—the actors being responsible for carrying out most of the action—the collective power of their collective voices could still have an impact on audiences by creating feelings such as awe or terror.

In conclusion, from providing commentary and moral lessons to advancing plotlines and entertaining audiences with music and dance, there was no doubt that the chorus played an essential role in ancient Greek theatre. It functioned not only as a narrative device but also as a source of entertainment for viewers—one which still has relevance today when we look back at classic plays performed centuries ago.

Conclusion:

What was the purpose of the chorus in Greek theatre? The answer is multifaceted; it provided commentary and moral lessons throughout plays; advanced plotlines; provided comic relief; entertained audiences with music and dancing; created feelings such as awe or terror; all while maintaining relevance even today when looking back at classic plays.