Audience Through Oedipus And The Chorus example essay topic

A common theme found in Greek plays is the use of a chorus. The chorus, a group of people that would serve as a parallel between the actors and the audience, can be found in almost every Greek play. In "Oedipus Rex", the chorus appears at the end of each scene and provides the audience with commentary on the story and the characters. By interacting with both the play and the audience, the chorus causes the audience to become a significant part of the play. While the main function of the Greek plays was simply to entertain, they did serve another significant purpose. This purpose was to communicate a certain message to the audience.

Sophocles uses the chorus in "Oedipus" to clearly display his message to the audience. He does this by having the chorus reflect the viewpoints and interpretations of the play that Sophocles intended the audience to have. Plainly, the chorus reflects the intended thought processes of the members of the audience. Also, as the play evolves, the audience's opinions of the characters are bound to change. The chorus members mirror these changes by allowing their opinions of the characters evolve as well. The main character of the play, Oedipus, is portrayed as the typical tragic hero.

The tragic hero is defined as a glorified, brave, noble character that is dogged by one of his flaws. The chorus mainly observes Oedipus, and analyzes his tragic flaw: his temper. The chorus teaches the audience through their analysis of Oedipus to listen to reason rather than emotion when in search of the truth. The Prologue begins with the audience's first impression of Oedipus. Immediately, Oedipus's character is portrayed as brave, noble, caring, and wise. One example of this glorification can be found when the audience is told the story of how Oedipus previously saved Thebes from a Sphinx by solving an extremely difficult riddle.

Another example can be found when the priest addresses Oedipus as "Great Oedipus, O powerful king of Thebes". This presentation of Oedipus causes both the chorus and the audience to immediately support him as their hero. The chorus then shows its support of Oedipus by glorifying him in the p'arodos by saying, "Now I remember, o healer, your great power and wonder". The chorus's support of Oedipus is also shown in the first ode.

When Teiresias accuses Oedipus of killing La " ios, Oedipus immediately lashes out at Teiresias, without considering the possibility that Teiresias may indeed be accurate in accusing him. The chorus then shows its support of Oedipus by agreeing with him and dismissing Teiresias's accusation as well. This is shown when the chorus states, "Prove his heroic mind, these evil words are lies". This causes the audience to follow the chorus's example in supporting Oedipus and dismissing Teiresias. However, Oedipus, the chorus, and the audience will later realize that they are all guilty of listening to their passion to find the truth about La " ios's killer rather than listening to reason. This is exactly how Sophocles intended to affect the audience.

The audience has experienced the same conflict that Oedipus is faced with, and has committed the same error as Oedipus as well. The second scene marks a huge turning point in Oedipus's, the chorus's and the audience's journey to find the truth. At the end of the scene, we see that Oedipus slowly begins to acknowledge the possibility that he is indeed La " ios's murderer. He recalls one instance in which he killed a number of men on a highway. He also states that he realizes the severity of his previous actions. "I have taken too much upon myself without enquiry, therefore I wish to consult with him".

This is when we first see Oedipus begin to truly think about his dilemma and attempt to reason with it. However, this causes him to realize the possibility that he is the murderer that he seeks. As the chorus and the audience see Oedipus begin to doubt himself, and realize this, they begin to doubt him as well. The chorus no longer glorifies Oedipus, but curses him by saying, "The tyrant is a child of pride, who drinks from his sickening cup recklessness and vanity, until from his high headlong he plummets to the dust of hope. That strong man is not strong". In the first ode, he was described as their great lord, yet here in the second ode, he is called a tyrant.

The audience is now beginning to realize (just as Oedipus is) that they too are guilty of relying on their emotions rather than reason to find the truth. This is how Sophocles begins to teach his lesson. The idea that Oedipus, the chorus, and the audience so quickly dismissed is slowly becoming valid in their minds. With this in mind, Oedipus enters scene three as a much wiser, more rational king. He is now determines to find the truth about his past and about the future of his city, disregarding the possibility of his own death or exile. We see this thirst for the truth when Oedipus argues with Iocaste over what to do when Oedipus is presented with more evidence against him.

Iocaste attempts to divert Oedipus away from the truth by mocking his thought process. This presents Iocaste in a new light before the audience and the chorus. She is now presented as the irrationality that blinds Oedipus from the truth. However, the chorus supports Oedipus when they see that he can overcome Iocaste's diversion. They show their regained support for Oedipus throughout the third ode. "May the God who heals us lend us his aid, and let glory come to pass for our king's cradling ground".

Here, the chorus is praying for Oedipus, as the chorus recognizes his internal and external struggle in search of the truth. Sophocles has the chorus support Oedipus to emphasize to the audience that reason leads to the truth, glory, and support. When Oedipus rejected reason, he quickly lost support of the chorus in Ode II, yet now in Ode, after Oedipus has committed himself to reason, he has full support of the chorus. With this support and commitment, Oedipus is now fully prepared and able to find and face the truth. This is the epitome of Sophocles's message to the audience. The fourth scene marks the end of Oedipus's and the audience's internal journey.

Here, Oedipus finally confronts and submits to the bitter truth that he is indeed La " ios's killer. Through reason, Oedipus has found the truth about his past and the future of his city. The chorus and audience see this and, realizing the struggle and pain that Oedipus has experienced, mourns Oedipus's tragic fate. "All actions come to justice there. Though never willed, though far down the deep past, your bed, your dread springs are brought to book at last. Child by La " ios doomed to die, then doomed to lose that fortunate little death, would God you never took breath in this air that with my wailing lips I take to cry: For I weep the world's outcast". pp. 66 Oedipus, the chorus, and the audience have learned Sophocles's important lesson, yet despite Oedipus overcoming his tragic flaw, he must suffer the consequences of his once forgotten crimes.

The chorus reflects all of these feelings in their final ode. Though Oedipus has learned to listen to reason when in search of the truth, he must face the truth once he finds it. Despite this tragic ending, the final ode does teach the final step of Sophocles's lesson: acceptance of the truth. Though Oedipus is the only person to suffer the consequences of his actions, the chorus and the audience learn the same lesson as he does, and embarks on the same internal journey throughout the play. Sophocles demonstrates to the audience through Oedipus and the chorus how difficult it is to face your own tragic flaw and overcome it for a greater good. This is how he teaches his message (that reason over passion will lead to the truth) to the audience.

Furthermore, Sophocles also teaches in the fourth scene that while the truth may be painful, it always must be accepted. Once Oedipus accepts the truth that he is La " ios's murderer, he immediately prepares himself for the consequences of his actions. One could then question whether or not the truth is worth searching for after this example is presented, yet though Oedipus's search for the truth has lead to his demise, it has saved his holy city, Thebes, from ruin.