Introduction:
“Doctor Faustus” is a dark play by Christopher Marlowe that draws the function of the chorus in a vivid way.The chorus plays an important role in the tragedy of Dr. Faustus and serves to enhance the plot of the tragedy.
Introduction to Chorus:
Chorus is a group of characters who participate in the dialogue as actors in the drama and express their sentiments and opinions when there are no characters on stage. In Greek mythology, a chorus is a group of people who performed in religious ceremonies by dancing and singing in honor of Bacchus, the god of wine.
More Notes: Doctor Faustus
The functions of the chorus:
In Doctor Faustus, Marlowe uses the chorus for two important purposes. Firstly, it acts as a single character secondly makes comments on the character and supplies the missing links in the story. The chorus appears four times in Doctor Faustus. In the first appearance of the Chorus speaks directly to the audience and tells the basic background history of Faustus and explains. Here the chorus functions as a prologue and expresses the purpose of the play. The chorus appears a second time at the beginning of the third act. There is a gap of several years. Here the Chorus describes how Faustus spent his earlier time and Dr. Career history of Faustus. The chorus appears third in Act IV. Here the Chorus tells of Faustus’ journey home after seeing the things of pleasure and the royal court. This tells us that Faustus’ name and fame spread far and wide. It also tells of Charles V’s invitation to Faustus to demonstrate his miraculous magical skills. The chorus appears for the last time at the end of the play. Here the chorus gives the moral that a man should not hanker to get boundless power, wealth, and money at the cost of his or her own soul.
Conclusion:
Finally, we can say that the basic function of the chorus in doctor Faustus is to tell and explain the basic background history of Faustus. Besides, it expresses the opinion of the author and reminds the audience that no human being should take a position outside the natural rules and regulations.
