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The Oresteia The chorus plays a central role in the development of The Oresteia. It is a group of actors who respond to and comment on the main action of the play with song, dance, and recitation. Bowra’s interpretation of the use of the chorus is difficult to refute, since the basic roles of the chorus cannot be denied. The first comment Bowra makes about the chorus is that is “the mouthpiece of the …

…chorus is also providing the characters with moral support to continue in their objective. There are examples of the chorus’ function scattered throughout the plays. Although the chorus may be composed of different people in the three distinct plays the influence and affect of the chorus remains constant. The chorus is without doubt a unique aspect of Greek drama which causes the audience to become an active participant in the play through its ideal comments.