“The Role of the Chorus in Medea”

The play, Medea written by Euripides, tells of a woman who is seeking revenge for the angst caused by an unfaithful lover. An important element in this play is the chorus composed of women. The fact that the chorus is a group of women is essential in the play. The chorus helps to provide an opinion of the values and events that take place in Medea. The chorus is essential to the play.

The chorus serves to show the general opinion of the role of women during the time the play takes place. Interesting enough, it seems that even though Medea was written in 431 B.C, the gender role presented in the play is contemporary and has not changed very much. The chorus advises Medea to forget about Jason’s unfaithfulness. They tell her the following, “Suppose your man gives honor/ To another woman’s bed. / It often happens. Don’t be hurt.” (153-155). Even today this idea that a woman should just expect a man to commit adultery still lingers.

The chorus also makes comments about the events unfolding throughout the play. The chorus discusses Medea’s right to be angry at Jason but advises her that she may be acting in a way that would not “support the normal Ways of mankind” (796-797). It seems that the chorus represents what a typical “girlfriend” figure would represent today. It is interesting to note that the chorus, however, seems to be on Medea’s side until after the murders are actually carried out. Maybe the chorus did not take Medea seriously enough, and thought she was just saying things out of passion.

In Medea the chorus provides to show a collective female voice of the values represented and the events in the play. Using an all female chorus the thoughts and desires of women are brought into focus, when they were over looked before. Euripides used the female chorus to bring attention to the female point of view.