How did Sophocles’ use of dialogue differ from the role of the chorus in earlier Greek tragedy?

In the evolution of Greek tragedy, Sophocles significantly altered the balance between the actors and the chorus. While early Greek drama was dominated by choral performances—where actors primarily directed their speech toward the chorus rather than each other—Sophocles shifted the focus toward the individual characters.12

Key changes introduced by Sophocles include:

• Increased Dramatic Interaction: By adding a third actor, Sophocles expanded the possibilities for complex dialogue and character interaction, moving the drama away from the chorus-centered structure established by his predecessors like Aeschylus.132
• Reduced Choral Role: Although Sophocles increased the number of chorus members to 15, he reduced their function in most of his plays to a mainly commentarial role. The chorus transitioned from being central to the plot to serving as a group that observed, interpreted, and expressed the fears, hopes, and judgments of the polity regarding the main action.13
• Focus on Human Action: This shift allowed Sophocles to concentrate on the decisive, often tragic, moments in the lives of his characters, using the chorus to provide a social background that gave resonance to the protagonists' actions.32