... Sophocles' to keep his actor group small whilst staging his play realistically. "Respect him- he's been no fool in the past" demonstrates how the chorus can voice the opinion of other nonexistent characters, Thebans in this situation. The chorus also sometimes represents all Thebans, for example in this case: when the Messenger tells Oedipus that he must ask for the help of the people, "Does anyone know that herdsman" it is the chorus that answers. The chorus also engaged in a lyrical dialogue, or kommos with a character, in this case Oedipus. Usually the leader of the chorus converses with Oedipus, but sometimes the chorus also speaks "Where's she gone, Oedipus". All of these ways help Sophocles to establish facts and affirm the outlook of society. As mentioned in the introduction, one of the functions of the chorus in Oedipus Rex is a mechanical one. This usually meant that whenever the ...

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