The citizens of Thebes are the chorus in Oedipus the King, and they may be considered background voices as well as the jury in the community since they are listening to both sides of the narrative and even begin to question and confront some of their questions and views. The chorus is used to convey emotion, sentiments, opinions, and even to answer audience questions.
(470)”We look at this man’s words and yours, my
king, and we find both have spoken them in anger.
We need no angry words but only thought
how we may best hit the God’s meaning for us.”
I chose this passage because it exemplifies the chorus’s thoughts and how honest they are; they are basically expressing that the King and Creon have both shared some words out of fury and pride at first, I felt as if although the citizens are loyal to the king, I felt as if the chorus was on Creon’s side as if they believed him until a certain point of time. I believe that the chorus provides the necessary back-and-forth to keep the play flowing.
One thought on “Discussion 6 Dasia Alexander”
Dasia, while this passage is not as poetically written as other sections sung by the Chorus, it does convey the quandary the citizens find themselves in. They respect both Oedipus and Creon and their anger unnerves them. They know that calmness and consideration are what the people need now from their leaders. Readers can see the humanity in both men as they give vent to their emotions. The bickering between the men unsettles them a bit like the way the bickering of parents upsets children, I think. It shakes their foundations.