Antigone
In the Greek play Antigone, Sophocles develops the Chorus to demonstrate how its opinion is influenced by evidence presented. As the Chorus becomes aware of important details throughout the play, its opinion changes from being completely supportive of Creon; to being sympathetic toward Antigone; and eventually to being very critical of Creon. In the play’s exposition, the Chorus strongly supports Creon and the land that Creon rules, Thebes. The first insight into the Chorus’ opinion is revealed when Choragus, the leader of the Chorus, deems Antigone’s dead brother, Polyneices, as a “wild eagle screaming insults above our land, [Thebes]”(page 942; line 10). The Chorus then adds that “before [Polyneices’] jaws were sated with our blood, . . . he was thrown back; and as he turned, great Thebes- no tender victim for his noisy power- rose like a dragon behind him, shouting war”(page 942; line 16). The metaphor of Polyneices being an eagle makes it seem like he screeched wildly like an untamed creature. Comparing Thebes to a dragon gives the impression that Thebes is extremely powerful and not one to be messed with. That metaphor of Thebes to a dragon also makes Thebes sound very amazing and majestic. Choragus also remarks as a refer . . .
The Chorus also states, “fate works most for woe with Folly’s fairest show. Big words are always punished, and proud men in old age learn to be wise”(page 978; line 139). However, the irony is that the Chorus is condemning Polyneices for being arrogant, when Creon, the man that they so devoutly support, is full of arrogance as well. The Chorus metaphorically describes Antigone as a flower in the statement, “Lately this last flower of Oedipus’ line drank the sunlight! but now a passionate word and a handful of dust have closed up all its beauty”(page 958; line 10). In the same ode, the Chorus adds, “[man] has made himself secure- from all but one: in the late wind of death he cannot stand”(page 949; line 17). Again, the Chorus compliments Antigone by admiring her beauty, as well as pities her sad fate. It is Creon’s pleasure he gets out of Antigone’s suffering that the Chorus seems to dislike. What woman has ever found your way to death”(page 966; line 11)? The Chorus obviously is very saddened by Antigone’s fate; however, it also tries to assure her that she is not dying without honor. Eventually, the Chorus began to form its opinion of Creon based solely upon the evidence it had received and interpreted, instead of forming an opinion based upon what was their assumed position on things. As Antigone is about to be led away to the vault, Choragus shares his sadness: “I can no longer stand in awe of this, nor, seeing what I see, keep back my tears”(page 965; line 1). In the first ode of the play, the Chorus also demonstrates their support for Creon. In the very beginning of the play, the Chorus would probably not care about Antigone; at this point in the play, however, the Chorus is deeply affected by Antigone’s death sentence. In the Paean almost at the end of the play, the Chorus begs the god Dionysus to have mercy on Thebes, and to drive out all evil from the land(page 974). In the end of the play, the Chorus realized that Creon was not as wise as he boasted about being, and because of Creon’s foolish pride, Antigone had to die an unjust death. The second ode of the play marks a change in the Chorus’ opinion because the Chorus begins to show sympathy for Antigone, even though she is an enemy of Creon.
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