What role does the Chorus have in the play Medea?
... promises which drew her across from Asia to Hellas, setting sail at night, threading the salt strait, key and barrier to the Pontic Sea.” (Page 23) Here the Chorus is giving us the situation where Medea has travelled from distant lands and has given up her life to be with Jason who in turn betrays her. They also tell us of how Medea is reacting to her situation; this appeals to us to give sympathy for Medea and to favour her but lets our feelings decide if we should feel sorry. Once the Chorus has explained the wrongs that have been done they accept Medea’s decision to seek revenge on Jason therefore leading us to also accept Medea’s decision. “I’ll do as you ask. To punish Jason will be just.” (Page 25) Another method the Chorus portrays is by governing or telling us how we should feel in an indirect manner. In the scene where Medea has reached a dead end and has no-where and no-one to turn to the Chorus says. “Medea, poor Medea! Your grief touches our hearts. A wanderer, where can you turn? To what welcoming house? To what protecting land? How wild with dread and danger is the sea where the gods have set your course!” (Page 28) The Chorus explains to us that Medea has nothing to lose, that her situation is bleak and in some way forces us to feel sorry for Medea and to favour her. After the scene where Medea and Jason argue, the Chorus speaks more of Medea’s hopeless situation. “Dragging out an intolerable life in desperate helplessness! That is the most pitiful of all griefs; death is better. Should such a day come to me I pray for death first.” (Page 36) The group of Corinthian women prefer death rather than exist through Medea’s situation. They move us to pity Medea. “You, Medea, have suffered the most shattering of blows…” (Page 37) Here we are brought to attention that Medea has been dealt the harshest of blows and we agree with the Chorus’ words, another example of the Chorus convincingly influences our views. While the Chorus influence us to consider Medea positively they also influence us negatively. The Corinthian women plead to Medea to rethink her future plans to kill the children and also while she is killing them. “Since you have told us everything, and since I want to be your friend, and also uphol...