Essay/Term paper: The chorus of antigone

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Antigone

The Chorus of Antigone


The chorus was not only a major part of Antigone, but also the most insightful portion of this play's cast. The members of the chorus tell Creon and the audience very important truths about themselves. Throughout the play the chorus comments on Creon's actions, and gives us all unbiased views on our hypocritical species. Without a chorus Creon's epiphany may never have occurred and we wouldn't have, as easily, seen our personal flaws. The chorus is included in a very effective manner, the chorus talks about death, love, and other unconquerable forces that humans eternally try to defeat, it shows the audience great futility and lets us see the problems we face throughout life.

Creon changes greatly throughout the play, he starts as a best friend, or someone out to help the common man, but later in the play he becomes more and more ruthless as his power corrupts him. At about the time his degradation reaches it's climax the chorus interrupts with a song about death, how man can control the most powerful of elements, and tame the wildest beast, yet death still comes. He also learns through them some important things about love, especially that it is unconquerable.

Through the chorus Creon begins to see that he is wrong and God is superior to himself, but it takes a lot to shake his belief that a perfect society is run by an unrelenting rule. This play also told me a lot about humans in general, that the they aren't interested in anything but the fulfillment of their own needs, and that they refuse to see that something may be more powerful than themselves. This revelation is the major theme of the play and is very important in Creon's growth as a person.

This play couldn't have existed without a chorus, these singers give too much to the structure of the play, without them Creon would never have changed as a person and the play would have been much more ambiguous as to the relationship of Creon's problems to our own. With the help of the chorus Creon learns that he is just a frail being in a world much greater than his own pitiful kingdom. Because of this he becomes much more god-minded, and sees his place in the scheme of things. This play is about loyalty to a much greater power, and with the help of the chorus he sees the power he must follow.

This entire play runs around the chorus, who gives insight to the characters, these actors provide the audience with knowledge about the human condition, and entertain as well as playing many parts for the characters to talk to. Without their odes, and paeans the play would have been incomplete.