Role of Chorus in Agamemnon

Farah Malik M Phil English Literature 2nd semester

Chorus
Chorus used to play an important role in the Greek drama. A chorus would often provide audience members with background information that applied to the events on stage. Such information would help audience members understand the performance. The chorus would do this through song and dance or by speaking their lines in unison. One of the most important functions of a Greek chorus was to act as the ideal spectator; that is, to present the appropriate response to the progress of the play. It created an emotional bridge, connecting the actors and the action to the spectators, and made the audience actually a part of the action; it asks questions about the characters' motives and offers comments on the events on stage.

Greek drama was a form that evolved out of song and dance; as such, a chorus would often incorporate song and dance into the events of the play. The chorus would have two important songs in a tragedy: a "parados," or entrance song, and the "stasima," or choral song used to propel the narrative In the beginning of the fifth century BC chorus used to be composed of 50 members. Through their songs and dance the chorus would introduce the main characters and the background of the play. The chorus used to act a single entity, bringing a collective consciousness to the progress of the play often wearing masks

With the passage of time the chorus was reduced in size with only 12 members by Aeschylus. These smaller choruses would bring greater unity and took more active part in the play.

Role of Chorus in Agamemnon The chorus in Agamemnon by Aeschylus is composed of Argive elders who were left behind when the Greek armada sailed to avenge the insult caused by the abduction of Helen by Trojan Prince, Paris. They were left behind because they were too old to take part in the war against Troy. During the ten year war they stood sentinel to the city state of Argos which was ruled by Clytemnestra in her husband, Agamemnons absence and received the ashes of the youth of Argos slain during the war.

ii

The chorus presents the parados the opening/entrance song of the play which is the longest of the extant Greek choral odes (Lines 40- 257), giving information about the background of the events leading to the play and how these events have troubled the balance of the world. They literally set the stage for the coming gloom and trepidation. It does not talk of the glory and victory of the Greek forces but highlights the sorrows, bloodshed, loss of innocence and youth. The burden of loss is shared equally by both Greece and Troy, Now Greece and Troy both pay their equal debtiii Thus the chorus not only is playing the role of providing the background of the Trojan war but also presenting its own viewpoint as part of the Argive population which was left behind to bear the brunt of the long drawn war. The chorus in its introductory song tells of the long waged war for a woman. They are also showing scepticism on the news of Greek victory because they are being given this news by a woman. This sows the patriarchal attitude of the male-dominated society where Clytemnestra is unable to gain any respect or even trust of the Elders of Argos even after ruling the city state for the past ten years.
4

The chorus doubts the news received through a system of lit beacons which inform the queen of their victory on Trojan forces. But thou, O daughter of Tyndareus, Queen Clytemnestra, what need? What news? What tale or tiding hath stirred thy moodiv For these male representatives of Argos it is difficult to accept a woman as a knowledgeable and foresighted ruler. They are not ready to accept the news announced by the Queen without any proof, because for them the word of the Queen is not as trustworthy as she is a female. On the other hand they are also giving the background of the war and hint at the sacrifice offered by the King before leaving for the war to appease the gods, the chorus recounts the events at Aulis, where Artemis had shown her displeasure by causing hurdles in the journey to Troy. A portent of twin eagles devouring a hare is interpreted by the seer; Calchas that they must offer a sacrifice to appease the angry goddess. Agamemnons daughter Iphigenia was identified as the suitable sacrifice for the goddess. This led to the Agamemnons agonizing decision of choosing victory on Troy over his filial love for his beautiful daughter. Through these lines sung by Chorus Aeschylus is taking an unorthodox approach to war, war which was glorified and hyped is presented not as something heroic but a brutal aspect of statesmanship. The chorus also provides the reason behind the fate of Agamemnon, because as the leader of the expedition to Troy he is responsible for all the transgression and loss suffered by the people. The corrupt sacrifice becomes a focal point as we later find out to be the reason which sowed the seeds of hatred and revenge in Clytemnestras heart for her long absent husband.
5

Hymn to Zeus The chorus includes a hymn in the honour of Zeus as Aeschylus tries to represent the connection between actions of mortal men and the divine retribution. The Greeks knew their gods as the forces in their lives and in this play they are the puppet masters who are leading the mortal men to the designated fate. The chorus is feeling uneasy and expresses hope that Zeus will, Bless the sign we saw today! Cancel all its presaged illv They can feel that the all this bloodshed for a woman and the killing of a daughter by her fathers hand will lead to no good, Cry Sorrow, sorrow yet let good prevail! The chorus is used as an instrument to create the backdrop for the tragedy, and tells of the fatal curse. And among other reasons it talks of the pride of Agamemnon which had caused the delay at Aulis and later this pride is bolstered and used by Clytemnestra against her husband when hes made to walk the crimson tapestries laid down in his path , which will lead not to his home, his sanctuary but to his death chamber. Chorus tell the Kings dilemma as he knows hes doomed to face disaster whether a sacrifices his daughter or not. He won a war at the cost of his childs blood, along with thousands of soldiers slain on both sides but now hes coming back but not to a heros welcome but to face divine retribution bore the sin of shedding a kins blood.

Clytemnestra and chorus When the queen announces the victory over Troy the chorus is not ready to believe her news. When she repeats the fact that Troy was taken by Greek forces the chorus demands a proof for the claim. She gives a detailed account of the beacons lit from Troy to Argos to tell the news to her people and her rule is far sighted for a ruler of her times let alone for a woman to think of such an ingenious way, and the Chorus praises her by saying , Madam, your words are like a mans, both wise and kindvi This shows another facet of Clytemnestras personality that shes able to govern her state in her husband not like a dummy, figurehead but as a forceful and competent ruler. But it also hints at one reason for the planned murder of her husband, the triumphant king because she is now not ready to give up the throne back to Agamemnon, who is now more remembered as the killer of her daughter than a loving and faithful husband Their mistrust or lack of trust on Queen Clytemnestra again and again shows the patriarchal attitude of the chorus which waits to see if her news of victory is true or false. They finally accept and believe the news when a messenger or herald brings the news of conquest of Troy. When Clytemnestra boasts of her loyalty and faithfulness, even the herald is baffled by these tall claims but the chorus is able to read between the lines and may have an idea why the Queen is so anxiously waiting for her husbands return to Argos.

Agamemnons Pride Chorus also points out the flaw in Agamemnons character that is pride even while praising Zeus for granting the victory over Trojan forces they mention the fact that ,
7

The hand of Zeus has cast The proud from their high place!........ Who trample in the dust Beauty of holy thingsvii This is an ironic statement made by the chorus which will see the triumphant king walk on a crimson carpet laid by his scheming wife to incur the displeasure of the gods. The chorus is loyal to Agamemnon as he is a king, a male who as a strong, victorious soldier commands their respect despite all his flaws and errors. They welcome the herald bringing the news of victory over Troy and hint that not everything was as it should be in Argos and they wait anxiously for the return of the king to set the affairs of the state right. They try to give a hint to the retuning King to be aware of peoples tall claims and praises but he is not able to decipher the warning hidden in chorus words. Maybe again his pride is at fault which stops him from giving too much weightage to the words of these old men. When Agamemnon against his judgement walks on the crimson carpet of tapestries laid by his wife he does not know that it leads not to a haven but to his doom, here again Aeschylus uses Chorus feeling of unease and remembering the blood and murder committed creates an atmosphere of the impending doom and disaster.

Chorus and Cassandra Cassandra blessed with the gift of prophecy and cursed with never being believed, tries to share the coming doom with the chorus but they are unable to comprehend her
8

meaning. She hints at the curse laid on her new masters home but the chorus is not able to connect the ancient curse with the upcoming murderous events. The chorus is unable to decipher the meaning hidden in Cassandras mad babbling but their confusion leads to a heightened sense of disaster as the audience now fully understand what lays in wait for the triumphant victor at the end of his long journey home. Their repeated proclamations of the inability to understand the mad ravings of Cassandra lead to the unavoidable doom to befall the king. Arrows of prophecy whose course and goal I seek, but cannot guess?viii The irony hidden in Cassandras dialogue , her reference to the feast laid down for Thyestes is understood by the chorus but as Apollo has cursed her with never being believed they are not able to comprehend its relationship with the scenario unfolding in front of their eyes. They listen to her talk of smell of murder and think shes talking about the sacrifice offered for the safe of the king and his army.

Agamemnons Murder Chorus is present outside the palace when is king is murdered but is unable to offer any help to the king. It is the first time that the chorus which up till now was peaking in unison losses its cohesion and become a multitude of voices and opinions. They talk of taking swift action but are incapable of doing so, they waste time talking to decide the course they must take and in the meanwhile king is killed and Clytemnestra shows herself as the avenger of her daughters killing.

When the chorus tries to shame Clytemnestra for killing her husband she is not ready to shoulder the blame for she points the finger at them to forgive Agamemnon for the slaying of their daughter because he was a man but when a woman, mother takes vengeance on her childs killer she is to be condemned. Even still the chorus tell her that her action will not go unpunished and she will have to pay the debt that is owed by her murderous deed. On the other hand the chorus goes back to Zeus and asks how such a deed is possible without the consent of the Zeus. They mourn the slaying of the king and are sure that justice will bring Clytemnestra to answer for deed. They also find fault in Aegisthus character because he failed to fulfil the curse laid by his father and let a women do an unimaginable deed.

Conclusion

Aeschylus

attempted to involve the chorus directly in the action of the play. In

Agamemnon, the chorus of Elders talks to the Queen Clytemnestra about the victory over Troy and refuses to believe her account of receiving the news of Trojan defeat and quarrels with the queen's lover after the kings murder. It plays an active role in bringing to forefront the ironical prophecy made by Cassandra. In the play the chorus is present not as a commentator only but as an active member of the cast. Their lines depict the moods and situation that are prevalent in Argos and also represent the mindset present in Argive society.

10

A masked Greek Chorus

ii

Elders of Argos Agamemnon ,line 65 iv Agamemnon, lines 88- 90 v Agamemnon, lines 145-146 vi Agamemnon line 349 vii Agamemnon lines 364 -372 viii Agamemnon line 1152-53
iii

11