The Chorus In Antigone Analysis
A chorus in a Greek tragedy is fundamental however in modern plays it is no longer a crucial element. The chorus consists of a small group of people, usually between twelve and fifteen, who account the events of the play, and foreshadow its development. They are meant to act as a character but are positioned away from the main action. As a character, the chorus has many functions; it interacts with other characters, and gives its opinion on the situations without regard to the chance of their opinion being wrong or correct. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, the chorus is composed of many male elders that represent the views of the townspeople. The chorus plays a large role in Antigone by giving insight on opposing characters as well as guiding
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Later on Creon found out that Antigone was the one who buried Polynecius he condemned her to death. However, he realized that if he committed a sin then the gods would punish him, his family and his city; he then decided that he would trick the gods. He put Antigone in a grave with enough food and water to last her a week so that the gods don’t realize that he is killing her. After she was entombed the chorus came on stage and gave references to many Greek gods and goddesses that were similar to Antigone. The Chorus says, “Danaë suffered too. She went from the light to the brass-built room, bedchamber and tomb together. Like you, poor child, she was of great descent, and more, she held and kept the seed of the golden rain which was Zeus” (p. 225-226 l. 944-950) this compares Antigone to the Danaë a Greek goddess. The chorus is saying that Danaë was also entombed and that she followed Zeus’s wishes and not the Kings. In both these situations, the King entombed someone for following a God’s wishes. In Antistrophe 2 the chorus talks about Cleopatra “Cleopatra, unhappy queen. She was a princess too, of the ancient Erechthids, but was reared in the cave of the wild north wind” (p.226, l. 983-985) she was entombed by her husband the king. The chorus uses both of these women as examples because they both suffered an unjust entombment just like Antigone. The Chorus used Cleopatra as an example because after she was imprisoned her husband married another woman; the sister of Cadmus. Cadmus is an Ancestor of Antigone and because of his great great-grandson’s sin all of his descendants will be punished. Through Greek mythology, the chorus helped the audience understand the play in more
Later on Creon found out that Antigone was the one who buried Polynecius he condemned her to death. However, he realized that if he committed a sin then the gods would punish him, his family and his city; he then decided that he would trick the gods. He put Antigone in a grave with enough food and water to last her a week so that the gods don’t realize that he is killing her. After she was entombed the chorus came on stage and gave references to many Greek gods and goddesses that were similar to Antigone. The Chorus says, “Danaë suffered too. She went from the light to the brass-built room, bedchamber and tomb together. Like you, poor child, she was of great descent, and more, she held and kept the seed of the golden rain which was Zeus” (p. 225-226 l. 944-950) this compares Antigone to the Danaë a Greek goddess. The chorus is saying that Danaë was also entombed and that she followed Zeus’s wishes and not the Kings. In both these situations, the King entombed someone for following a God’s wishes. In Antistrophe 2 the chorus talks about Cleopatra “Cleopatra, unhappy queen. She was a princess too, of the ancient Erechthids, but was reared in the cave of the wild north wind” (p.226, l. 983-985) she was entombed by her husband the king. The chorus uses both of these women as examples because they both suffered an unjust entombment just like Antigone. The Chorus used Cleopatra as an example because after she was imprisoned her husband married another woman; the sister of Cadmus. Cadmus is an Ancestor of Antigone and because of his great great-grandson’s sin all of his descendants will be punished. Through Greek mythology, the chorus helped the audience understand the play in more