For most plays, the role of the Chorus involves a small number of people, usually between seven and twelve, who make commentary on the unfolding events during the play and serve as foreshadowers of the action to come. They are usually apart from the action, yet also apart from the audience. In the play "Antigone " by Sophocles, the chorus is portrayed as a group of old citizens of Thebes, aligning themselves with the audience by frequently referring to the audience and themselves as the collective "we " and by doing so, making the audience a part of their chorus. What feelings towards the play are created when the audience takes on the role of the chorus? The audience is able to create a deeper connection with the characters and the story of Antigone through the chorus, therefore strengthening the emotional commitment to the play. .
Sophocles uses the chorus to give commentary and background on preceding events, therefore strengthening and supporting the moral decisions of opposing characters. For example, the chorus expresses their feelings toward Antigone when she was captured and brought before Creon by saying, "Here is a dark sign from the gods-- what to make of this? That young girl's Antigone! Wretched child of a wretched father " (Sophocles, 78). The chorus establishes their disgust with Antigone even before they realized what she had done, setting the tone for the first interaction with Creon. If Antigone already has negative stigma, the audience is more likely to support Creon's thoughts and plan for punishment. This strategy leaves the audience feeling torn between characters, in contemplation of who is really right. The torn feeling forces the audience to evaluate their own morals and values because both sides of the argument seem reasonable, and in the story they must choose one character to side with. As deeply as the chorus engages the audience, the presence of the chorus allows the audience to be involved, but in such a way where their decision will have no effect on the outcome because it is already decided.
