THESPIANS

The role of the chorus in //Oedipus// is imperative and essential. The chorus often provides vital information and moves the story along although they have no real role as a major character. Without the role of the chorus though, the structure of the play would collapse. The lines of the chorus are very deliberate in their meaning. The chorus interacts with the major characters often heightening effect, asking questions, or giving advice. The chorus involves movement, dancing, and song. The chorus also paces the action of the play to give time for the audience to reflect and comprehend what they have seen. So far in //Oedipus//, the chorus has explained and set the mood for the condition of Oedipus's kingdom at the present time. The chorus interacts with Oedipus and gives him advice such as: "I know that what the Lord Teiresias sees, is most often what the Lord Apollo sees. If you should inquire of this from him you might find out most clearly," to try and help Oedipus find out the murderer of King Laius.
 * Elizabeth Mastoris - 12/4/07**

source: http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/spd130et/ancientgreek.htm and //Oedipus//

Minor characters are important in the //Oedipus.// Although these characters are usually overlooked. In the case of the //Oedipus,// it is almost to does this. For example, if the reader was to overlook the chorus, for example, they would have no idea what the character was thinking or that tension was building. It also shows the two sides of the story. So, lines such as:"All of us saw his wisdom and in that test he saved the city. So he will not be condemned in by my mind", are extremely important in the play and can not be simply dismissed. Another minor character in Part I of the //Oedipus// is the prophet (or seer), Teirsias, who tells Oedipus that he is the killer of the previous king, Laius. Although Oedipus refuses to listen, Teirsias tells him in plainly who the killer is. "I say you are the murderer of the king whose murderer you seek." If it had not been for this "minor" character readers would not know that it **was** Oedipus was was indeed the murderer of the past king.
 * Ashley Cooper Napolitano - 12/8/07**

source: //Oedipus//

It is remarkable how in many plays, the nameless characters have such a large impact on the plot. In //Oedipus//, both messengers, and the herdsmen play extremely large roles. Even though they are nameless, they are not completely flat. For example, the herdsmen is at a loss for words when Oedipus asks about the child he was told to give away because his concious was uncertain whether his life was worth his secret. Without the first messenger, Oedipus would never have found out about his arrival in Corinth. These characters drive the plot. Also, one must understand that //Oedipus// is a play, and therefore not everything can take place on stage. The role of the second messenger was to inform the audience of Jocasta's suicide and Oedipus's self mutilation. Without the nameless characters, the play would be very dull and short.
 * Madeline Turrini** **- 12/12/07**

In //Oedipus//, minor characters are extremely important to the plot. Jocosa, Oedipus' mother and wife, has a very important role in this story. If she had not sent Oedipus away, when he was only a baby, the prophecy would have never come true, and Oedipus would have never killed his father or have married his mother. Another extremely important minor character in this story is Teirsias, the blind oracle. There is much irony in his character, he is blind in a sense that he cannot see the present, however he is able to see things that nobody else is able to, especially Oedipus who is blind to what is going on right in front of him. Oedipus refuses to believe this wise oracle, even though he tells him of the prophecy, and that he killed his father. As readers, we see Teirsias as an example of ethos, everything he ever predicted came true, making him a trustworthy character. If not for these minor characters, the plot of //Oedipus// would be extremely different and not at all as interesting.
 * Emily Mead-12/14/07**

In Oedipus, the chorus plays a very important role. The chorus is split into two parts, the Strophe and the Antistrophe. The Strophe and the Antistrophe show different sides of the situation. They contrast each other and have different opinions. The Strophe says, "O generations of men, how I count you as equal with those who live not at all! What man, what man on warth wins more of happiness than a seeming and after that turning away? Oedipus, you are my pattern of this, Oedipus, you and your fate! Luckless Oedipus, whom of all men I envy not at all." They are trying to be sympathetic towards Oedipus. They ask him why he has done this to himself and they feel bad for him. Where as the Antistrophe is just telling the facts. "In as much as he shot his bolt beyond the others and won the prize of happiness complete. O Zeus- and killed and reduced to nought the hooked taloned maid of the riddling speech." The Antistrophe is comparing Oedipus to Zeus, but they say Oedipus can not handle the pressure of being a ruler, unlike Zeus. **//OOOOOOH!!! Isn't it scary? There's a reason that we don't wear them anymore.//**
 * Kate Furgueson- 12/18/07**