A Tale Without a Chorus

A tale without a Chorus

Ancient Greek plays used the convention of a chorus to enhance the audience’s perspective on the play. As a link between the actors and the audience, the chorus primarily serves to add to the audience’s viewpoint by expressing the emotions and concerns shown in the play. In Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King,” the chorus does exactly that as it shows wisdom, nervousness and complacency regarding certain actions throughout the play. If one were to replace the chorus with a character however, that character would be a religious advisor to Oedipus because of the chorus’s aforementioned characteristics along with its god-fearing personality.

The character should be an experienced, wise man who wishes only for peace since throughout the play, the chorus wishes nothing but calm and stability for Thebes. One example of this is during the verbal battle between Oedipus and Tiresais. While both of them are angered due to Tiresais’s news, they both threaten each other. Afraid that another curse will be imposed on Thebes, the chorus interrupts, “Forgive us, Oedipus, but this is anger…What we want to know is how best to carry out god’s designs,” in order to stabilize the mood (23). Shown from just this quote, it’s easy to understand that the chorus is very tactful and knowledgeable. It sides neither Oedipus nor Tiresais and tries to be reasonable. Thus, a wise, educationally and worldly-experienced man could replace the chorus as a character in the play. This wise man will guide the king and indirectly, the king’s subjects to take moderate decisions such as the chorus does throughout this play. Of course, such wisdom not only comes through education, but comes through experience. Such a character has to be experienced through the life experiences he has faced. An old man quickly qualifies for this position as a character to replace the chorus. He’s experienced, educated, and just like the chorus, does not want any more curses or wars than he has lived...