1. Reflecting Community's Perspective: The Chorus represents the views, thoughts, and emotions of the Theban community. Their opinions influence the events in the play and add a collective perspective to the individual actions of the characters.
2. Highlighting Moral Issues: Through songs, chants, and dialogue, the Chorus raises significant questions about morality, law, religion, and the conflicts that arise when societal expectations clash with personal beliefs, like Antigone's choice to bury her brother.
3. Providing History: The Chorus provides the audience with the necessary backstory and context about Thebes, the city's history, the conflict between the brothers Eteocles and Polyneices, and Creon's proclamation.
4. Questioning Authority: The Chorus challenges the authority figures and their decisions. They doubt the wisdom of Creon's absolute commands, raise concerns about the consequences of his actions, and question whether his pursuit of power overrides moral considerations.
5. Offering Wisdom: The Chorus's wisdom is often expressed in maxims, proverbs, and philosophical reflections. These statements offer guidance and insight into human nature, fate, and the consequences of actions.
6. Emotional Response: The Chorus expresses emotional reactions to the events and characters. They lament, empathize, and experience fear and pity, representing a spectrum of human emotions. Their reactions mirror those of the audience, evoking empathy and deepening the emotional impact of the play.
7. Enhancing Dramatic Structure: The Chorus provides interludes between scenes and acts, creating a structure for the play. Their presence signals shifts in time and allows for reflection and commentary before moving on to subsequent actions.
The Chorus also serves as a moral compass, guiding the audience's perception of right and wrong, and challenging the notions of authority, justice, and personal duty. Their presence and interventions set the tone for the escalating conflict and highlight the struggle between individual conscience and societal expectations that drives much of the tragedy in Antigone.