The Role And Function Of The Chorus In Electra And Hippolytus 5w13v

STAMFORD UNIVERSITY BANGLADESH

Assignment on: The role and function of the chorus in Electra and Hippolytus

Department of English

The role of the chorus in drama is much like the role of the narrator of a story. Chorus gives background information about story. The role of the chorus may have been important because of structural and practical reasons. At the same time, one may praise them primarily as an enhancer and amplifier of impression, and sometimes the voice of a , or the moral voice of the people. It is also important to develop plot. In Doctor Faustus, for example, chorus play very important role because it tells information about central hero of the play in the opening of the play and intention in the end. In some plays the chorus is clearly connected to plot development, but in others they serve as poetic and visual interludes with only tenuous connections to the main plot. The chorus would have had numerous functions in providing a comprehensive and continuous artistic unit. Firstly, the chorus provides commentary on actions and events that were taking place before the audience. By doing this the chorus create a deeper and more meaningful connection between the characters and the audience. Secondly, the chorus would allow the playwright to create a kind of literary complexity only achievable by a literary device controlling the atmosphere and expectations of the audience. Thirdly, the chorus allows the playwright to prepare the audience for certain key moments in the storyline, build up momentum or slow down the tempo; he could underline certain elements and downplay others. Such usage of the choral structure-making functions may be observed throughout many classical plays such as Alcestis, Electra, Hippolytus and so on.

In Sophocles Electra, the chorus plays a large part in establishing the tone of the play. Among the roles of the chorus in Electra are the following: to explain and interpret the action. ,to serve as an actor in the play, to sing and or dance, to present the author's views and to or criticize characters. In many ways, this group of women guides the audience as to how to react to

the action on stage. We also see that the Chorus sympathizes with Electra. They agree that she has been treated terribly since her father died, and they lament her situation.

At the beginning of the play, the Chorus consults directly with Electra. They beg the irate Electra to accept their offer to take the gods into her life and live peacefully. The Chorus actually takes Chrysothemis’ side – they encourage Electra to move on like her sister, to start thinking pragmatically instead of idealistically. The chorus approaches Electra to give her consolation. The chorus beseeches Electra not to waste her life away in mourning, and although Electra expresses thanks for their concern, she insists that she cannot let go of the memory of her father, nor of her mourning. The chorus reminds Electra that grieving will do nothing to bring her father back from the dead, that her sister Chrysothemis has persevered, continuing on with her life, and that there remains the possibility that one day Orestes will return to his homeland. Electra proves inconsolable. Electra gives faint hearing to the encouraging arguments of the chorus. She apologizes to the chorus for the extremity of her grief, but explains that in the name of justice and honor she has no choice but to mourn her father's death and desire its revenge.

This traditionally conservative stance is slowly eroded over the course of the play; at the moment of revenge, the chorus is an active and enthusiastic participant, giving urgent warning when they see Aegisthus returning. The chorus initially softens its stance upon hearing Chrysothemis relate Clytemnestra's dream. They regard the dream as an omen that the retribution for which Electra so longs is nigh, perhaps legitimizing their of the heroine. They urge Chrysothemis, then, to do as Electra bids and throw Clytemnestra's offering for Agamemnon away, replacing it with one of their (the sisters's) own. Afterwards, the chorus is far more

sympathetic to Electra than to Clytemnestra in their angry exchange, and they Electra. The revenge grows thus stronger throughout the play.

Even when Electra starts planning a murderous plot of her own, the chorus does not desert her. Despite an initial show of anxiety, the chorus are galvanized by Electra’s plan and devote entire ode to heralding the arrival of vengeance and then to honoring and praising Electra in the highest , asking rhetorically “ who could be born so worthy of noble parentage?” and declaring to Electra that she is chosen to “have been called a wise and most noble child”. Even in such an extreme and menacing moment, the chorus are swept up by Electra’s word, as if they cannot shake off the power of her voice and the antiphonal role assigned to them by her constant dirge. Their cooperation with Electra’s purpose and activities invites a similarly complaint and respectful reactions from the audience.

In Electra, the chorus is not just a female voice; rather their relationship with Electra is like alliance. Electra too considers the chorus as her companion. Her relationship with them is vital, especially at the start of the play before Orestes' return. The Chorus is a mother figure to her, offering advice, comfort and that she couldn't receive from her real mother Clytemnestra. Electra feels isolated, and has no one share her thoughts and feelings with aside from the Chorus. Electra's injustice is ed by the Chorus, though they advise her caution in her revenge, and to moderate her anger, to avoid her destroying herself through grief for her father. Similarly, the Chorus is hostile to Clytamnestra & Aegistheus and wishes Electra would get over the murder. They become as distraught at the false news of Orestes's death as is Electra herself. Like a genuine well wisher, they share her grief when she thinks that Orestes is dead and her joy when he shows up alive.

The chorus in Hippolytus

takes on a similar role to that of the play Electra. In

Hippolytus, the chorus consists of women living in Trozen. As is typical in Greek drama, the chorus provides context, continuity, and commentary for those reading or viewing the play. They also provide a more universal perspective on the action. The Chorus plays an active role in Hippolytus and are portrayed in a way where we see them directly interacting with characters of the play. The chorus enters the play following the temple scene, describing Phaedra’s sickness. They describe how Phaedra is not eating or sleeping for three days. They worried and frequently exhibit their yearning to know the reason for which Phaedra is punishing herself. They ask “whence grief of heart has made her bed her prison”. They notice that her body is so wasted in sickness that she lost all her strength. After an agonizing discussion, Phaedra finally reluctantly confesses that she is sick with love for Hippolytus, and that she plans to starve herself in order to die with her honor intact. The nurse and the chorus are shocked. But soon The Nurse decides to look at the situation pragmatically and thinks they must try to talk to Hippolytus to find a cure for the queen. For the sake of the queen, the chorus also makes swear of secrecy and till the end they keep their promise. Thus, the chorus becomes an unwitting confidante of Phaedra, and, privy to this additional information. The chorus, in contrast, being sympathetic to Hippolytus inevitable tragedy, attempts to dissuade Theseus from enacting his wrath against Hippolytus. However, though they must abide by an oath of silence that prevents them from fully explaining Phaedra’s lust and suicide, they sing a lament for Hippolytus. Finally, the play, Hippolytus , ends with uttering greatness of Hippolytus, In ritual mourning many tears will flow For when great men die Their ed story stirs the greater grief

Hence, the chorus fulfills the traditional role of providing context, continuity, and commentary on the action of the play. The women frequently comment on the thematic elements of the play, bemoaning the horrific power that love wields and alluding to other incidents of tragic love affairs or godly dispute. The group serves up advice for Phaedra as well as explains to Theseus that he is not acting properly, yet he does not even know the fact and continues bouthing Hippolytus . This example is consistent with the choral activity in the Electra. The chorus provides a sane view of the world, however is rejected by the characters that are controlled by mind. The chorus provides a helping opinion for the ghastly acts that will arise from the conflict. To sum up, in both plays, Sophocles’ Electra and Euripides’ Hippolytus , the chorus has a large part in of interaction in the play itself. The chorus offers advice to the characters of the play throughout their many times of turmoil. The chorus is offering the sane view of the world to rather insane characters.