Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does Murder in the Cathedral use a chorus in the style of Greek drama?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

T.S. Eliot stands at a chalkboard, writing a diagram with letters and Greek symbols representing characters for a play, in his office at the Institute for Advanced Study. — T.S. Eliot T.S. Eliot working on his play *The Cocktail Party* in his office at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University, 1948. The letters of the alphabet in his diagram represent characters in the play. The Greek letters represent characters yet to be invented.

In Murder in the Cathedral, T.S. Eliot employs a chorus composed of the poor women of Canterbury, utilizing them in the traditional Classical Greek manner to bridge the gap between the heroic actions of the protagonist and the understanding of common humanity.12

Much like the chorus in ancient Greek drama, Eliot’s chorus serves several key functions:

Commentary and Perspective: They formulate and express moral judgments regarding the dramatic action, reflecting the fears, hopes, and collective voice of the ordinary citizenry rather than the individual protagonist.34
Emotional Resonance: They express emotions appropriate to the unfolding conflict, such as their initial nervous anticipation regarding Thomas Becket’s return from exile and his precarious standing with King Henry II.13
Thematic Depth: By observing and reacting to the martyrdom, the chorus helps make the complex religious and moral themes of the play—specifically the sin of pride—apprehensible to the audience.2

This structural choice highlights the distinction between the active, defiant protagonist and the more passive, reflective role of the chorus, which serves as the moral witness to the play's events.4