Re: The Chorus -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 12:00:04 03/08/08 Sat
Author: CS Holden
Subject: Re: The Chorus
In reply to: Katelyn R. 's message, "Re: The Chorus" on 07:47:27 03/08/08 Sat

Keep in mind, too, that in the context of the Greek theatre, the chorus reflects the reactions of a Greek audience. So in the same way that Euripedes makes a comment about the Dionysian festival with "The Bacchae," so, too, does Sophocles. The difference, of course, is that Sophocles buys more into the myth that Oedipus is in fact the pharmakon. From the perspective of its original audience, there is no doubt. The audience is meant to identify--at least to some extent--with the chorus.

How interesting would it be, though, for a production of "Oedipus Rex" to arm its chorus members with pitchforks? Whenever Oedipus shifts blame onto Tiresius or Creon, the chorus could start moving their way. It could help a modern audience to see the play from a more removed position by preventing them from seeing the action from the chorus' perspective, and in fact realizing that the chorus/mob participates in the scapegoat mechanism.

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