Role of THE CHORUS
~Murder In The Cathedral
(T.S ELIOT)
Its History and Nature
The Chorus is an important constituent of classical drama that Eliot has used. In the original
Greek drama, Chorus was made up of a group of people who interpreted the action to the
audience while taking part in the action. It comments on the action, explains the significance of
character and action and informs the audience about the events that took place either before the
play's action or off the stage.
Eliot on the Chorus'
Eliot remarked that "...the Chorus has always fundamentally the same use. It mediates between
the action and the audience, it intensifies the action by protecting its emotional consequence, so
that we, as the audience, see it doubly, by seeing its effect on other people."
Composition of the chorus
The Chorus in the play Murder In The Cathedral comprises the women of Canterbury. They
initially introduce themselves as the "poor women of Canterbury". Later, they talk of themselves as
"the scrubbers and sweepers of Canterbury". They are "the small folk drawn into the pattern of fate,
the small folk who live among small things". In other words, they are ordinary people living ordinary
lives, filled with routine events.
Representative Nature
The Chorus here is thus different from that in Aeschylus's plays. It is much more individualised.
It represents, in effect, the great mass of individuals which Christ came to save: "We acknowledge
ourselves as a type of the common man....". The Chorus embodies the experiences of these common
people.
Extended Function
The Chorus is like the Christian choir. As R. Williams says: "It is the articulate voice of the body of
worshippers." It works as the Christian tradition and as a means of religious instruction. "It
instructs us on the meaning of martyrdom and is an extension of the liturgy, in that it invites us to
celebrate the act of martyrdom, as a sign of God's Grace, relevant to all sorts and conditions of man."
Presage of Evil
The Chorus also foreshadows future events, acquainting the audience with them. The women of
the Chorus have strong feelings of impending evil: Some sign of an evil or an act which our eyes
are forced to witness, but we are forced to bear witness.
Role in the Development of Action
The Chorus develops the action of the play. It initiates concludes, comments on and analyses the
action of the play. "It develops the plot, keeps its continuity, and knits various actions into one
~Murder In The Cathedral
(T.S ELIOT)
Its History and Nature
The Chorus is an important constituent of classical drama that Eliot has used. In the original
Greek drama, Chorus was made up of a group of people who interpreted the action to the
audience while taking part in the action. It comments on the action, explains the significance of
character and action and informs the audience about the events that took place either before the
play's action or off the stage.
Eliot on the Chorus'
Eliot remarked that "...the Chorus has always fundamentally the same use. It mediates between
the action and the audience, it intensifies the action by protecting its emotional consequence, so
that we, as the audience, see it doubly, by seeing its effect on other people."
Composition of the chorus
The Chorus in the play Murder In The Cathedral comprises the women of Canterbury. They
initially introduce themselves as the "poor women of Canterbury". Later, they talk of themselves as
"the scrubbers and sweepers of Canterbury". They are "the small folk drawn into the pattern of fate,
the small folk who live among small things". In other words, they are ordinary people living ordinary
lives, filled with routine events.
Representative Nature
The Chorus here is thus different from that in Aeschylus's plays. It is much more individualised.
It represents, in effect, the great mass of individuals which Christ came to save: "We acknowledge
ourselves as a type of the common man....". The Chorus embodies the experiences of these common
people.
Extended Function
The Chorus is like the Christian choir. As R. Williams says: "It is the articulate voice of the body of
worshippers." It works as the Christian tradition and as a means of religious instruction. "It
instructs us on the meaning of martyrdom and is an extension of the liturgy, in that it invites us to
celebrate the act of martyrdom, as a sign of God's Grace, relevant to all sorts and conditions of man."
Presage of Evil
The Chorus also foreshadows future events, acquainting the audience with them. The women of
the Chorus have strong feelings of impending evil: Some sign of an evil or an act which our eyes
are forced to witness, but we are forced to bear witness.
Role in the Development of Action
The Chorus develops the action of the play. It initiates concludes, comments on and analyses the
action of the play. "It develops the plot, keeps its continuity, and knits various actions into one
