Essay about chorus role in medea - 782 Words

The Chorus influences our response to Medea and her actions in both a positive and negative manner. The Chorus, a body of approximately fifteen Corinthian women who associate the audience with the actors, is able to persuade and govern us indirectly through sympathy for what has been done to Medea, a princess of Colchis and the victim of her husband’s betrayal of love for another woman. The Chorus also lead us to through sympathy for Medea to accept her decision of taking revenge on princess Glauce and Jason. On the other hand the Corinthian women influence us and our responses towards Medea negatively by pleading to her when she decides to kill the children later in the story. A way the Chorus influences our response to have pity and†¦show more content†¦Once the Chorus has explained the wrongs that have been done they accept Medea’s decision to seek revenge on Jason therefore leading us to also accept Medea’s decision. â€Å"I’ll do as you ask. To punish Jason will be just.† (Page 25) Another method the Chorus portrays is by governing or telling us how we should feel in an indirect manner. In the scene where Medea has reached a dead end and has no-where and no-one to turn to the Chorus says. â€Å"Medea, poor Medea! Your grief touches our hearts. A wanderer, where can you turn? To what welcoming house? To what protecting land? How wild with dread and danger is the sea where the gods have set your course!† (Page 28) The Chorus explains to us that Medea has nothing to lose, that her situation is bleak and in some way forces us to feel sorry for Medea and to favour her. After the scene where Medea and Jason argue, the Chorus speaks more of Medea’s hopeless situation. â€Å"Dragging out an intolerable life in desperate helplessness! That is the most pitiful of all griefs; death is better. Should such a day come to me I pray for death first.† (Page 36) The group of Corinthian women prefer death rather than exist through Medea’s situation. They move us to pity Medea. â€Å"You, Medea, have suffered the most shattering of blows†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Page 37) Here we are brought to attention that Medea has been dealt the harshest of blows and we agree with the Chorus’ words, another example of the Chorus convincingly influences our views. While theShow MoreRelatedThe Role of Chorus in Euripides Medea638 Words   |  3 Pages The Role of Chorus in Medea nbsp; In section 18 of the Poetics Aristotle criticizes Euripides for not allowing the chorus to be one of the actors and to be a part of the whole and to share in the dramatic action, . . . as in Sophocles. Aristotle may be thinking of the embolima of Euripides later plays (satirized also by Aristophanes), but he is certainly wrong about the Medea. Its choral odes are not only all intimately related to the action but are also essential for the meaning of theRead MoreMedea: Discuss the Role of the Chorus Essay1210 Words   |  5 PagesDiscuss the importance of the role that the Chorus plays in Euripedes Medea. br brThe Chorus is very much an important part of Euripedes Medea, and indeed many other works written in the ancient Greek style. In this play, it follows the journey Medea makes, and not only narrates, but commentates on what is happening. Euripedes uses the Chorus as a literary device to raise certain issues, and to influence where the sympathies of the audience lie. br brIn the list of characters at theRead More The Importance of the Role That the Chorus Plays in Euripedes’ Medea1142 Words   |  5 Pagesof the Role That the Chorus Plays in Euripedes’ Medea The Chorus is very much an important part of Euripedes’ Medea, and indeed many other works written in the ancient Greek style. 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