Functionality of the Chorus in Greek Plays

The Functional Chorus in Oedipus at Colonus

In Greek plays, the Chorus serves as a multi-faceted entity: able to reason with characters and intrigue the audience while aiding Greek playwrights and actors with the ease of scene transition and overall flow of their thespian work. However, the Chorus maturates throughout each individual play, which is diacritical of Greek plays as a whole. In Oedipus at Colonus, the Chorus attains a level of functionality as a fixture of stage production and as an approach to understanding difficult ideals the play cultivates.
The Chorus has both a subjective and objective role within Oedipus at Colonus. Its objectivity rests with it role as a presence on the stage. Greek sets were notoriously plain and were dependent on the Chorus to distract the audience during whatever minimal scene changes were needed (“Oedipus the King”). Masks and costumes during Greek plays did not allow for emotion, so actors were dependent on the Chorus’ words...