The chorus

Luis Vargas

Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB
February 10-2012

    In the play Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe  their is a important role for the chorus. The chorus in Greek plays were usually provided background information for the viewers or reader in a play. In Greek plays the chorus mostly sang, while singing the chorus usually over reacted and over spoke about information that needed to distributed to the viewer.    The chorus has the role to comment on the theme that is happening during the play  and to provide and establish the plot or  background information.The function of the chorus is Doctor Faustus is to say what the major characters cant say.
    In the begging of Doctor Faustus, Doctor Faustus is being described by the chorus. “ He surfeits upon cursed necromancy. Nothing so sweet as magic is to him Which he prefers before his chiefest bliss- And this is the man that in his study sits” (Marlowe1.1.24-260). Describing Doctor Faustus at the begging of the play is a good example of the role of the chorus; by providing background information for the reader. When Marlowe uses the chorus is demonstrates that the sate of Marlowe’s dramatic skill to write poems within the chorus.
     Today modern movie producers  use flashbacks  to provide the same information. Flashbacks are more easy to understand in modern movies instead of using a chorus. A flashback in a movie can distribute information that he or she does not know. Using a chorus in common day movies would effect how the viewer perspective view. Many people would not accept the idea of using the chorus in common day movies, it would have a dramatic affect.