Medea and the Chorus

A detailed Summary of Medea and the Chorus

As you have learned, Greek drama evolved from the ritualistic

performances of a chorus at the Dionysian festivals. After the actor Thespis

stepped out of the chorus and began a dialogue with it, other characters soon

followed, and the chorus's role gradually diminished in size (from fifty members

to fifteen) and importance. Playwrights kept the chorus as a significant

element in their dramas, but its functions were necessarily more limited.

Robinson Jeffers, who translated Medea, has also retained the chorus, but has

modified its mature slightly. Instead of having it speak in unison, he has

assigned speeches to individual members. Nevertheless, the chorus still plays

a prominent part and fills the traditional functions of a chorus in Greek

the plot. Such as when first woman on 1.53 says "I hear her crying again: it is

introduce the entrances of characters in the play. Or when on 1.256, when the

and third woman introduce Creon when he arrives on the scene to talk to

but without them, it wouldn't be the same.

wisdom." All of these quotes can be found on 1:88-90. These quotes show how

First off, when the chorus was introduced into a play, one of its functions

powerful and dangerous Medea can be. You better not make her mad (or

Approximate Word count = 518
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts

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