In drama, the chorus serves multiple important functions:
1. Narrator and Commentator:
- The chorus often acts as a narrator that provides information about the play's setting, events, and characters.
- It offers background context and sets the scene for the audience.
2. Commentary on the Action:
- The chorus provides commentary on the play's action and events.
- It expresses opinions, reactions, and insights that reflect the general sentiment or moral perspective.
3. Emotional Response:
- The chorus collectively expresses emotions and reactions to the events unfolding in the play.
- This can include reactions of joy, sorrow, fear, anger, or reflection.
4. Moral Lessons and Wisdom:
- The chorus often delivers moral lessons, insights, or wisdom related to the play's themes and events.
- It serves as a collective voice of reason, offering guidance and moral reflections.
5. Heightening Dramatic Tension:
- The chorus can intensify the dramatic tension by commenting on the actions of the characters and foreshadowing future events.
- It creates a sense of anticipation and involvement for the audience.
6. Providing Background and Context:
- The chorus shares information about the characters' backgrounds, histories, and motivations, adding depth to the plot.
- It helps the audience understand the dynamics and conflicts within the play.
7. Catharsis:
- The chorus sometimes expresses extreme emotions on behalf of the audience, allowing the audience to experience catharsis.
- This release of emotions can evoke a sense of relief and emotional connection.
8. Connection to the Audience:
- The chorus acts as a bridge between the stage and the audience.
- It provides direct communication with the audience, addressing them and engaging them in the play.
9. Reflecting Societal Values:
- The chorus often reflects the values, beliefs, and attitudes of the society, time period, or culture depicted in the play.
- It represents a collective perspective or consciousness.
10. Reinforcement of Themes:
- The chorus reinforces and emphasizes the central themes of the play through its commentary, reactions, and insights.
Examples:
In Greek tragedies, the chorus was typically a group of citizens who commented on the actions and fates of the characters, offering wisdom and moral reflections.
In Shakespeare's plays, the chorus sometimes appears in the form of a single character who provides narrative and commentary at key points in the story.
In modern drama, the chorus may be represented in various ways, such as through a group of actors, a community, or even the audience itself.