When the Chorus enters, it is important to note that the audience has not yet seen Medea. They have however, heard her tale of woe from a sympathetic voice; the Nurse. This dramatic device allows the author to build sympathy for Medea before she is revealed, and further build suspense within the play, as the audience waits to finally view their protagonist. The entrance of the Chorus to a near empty stage is key in achieving this, as they are a trademark of Greek theatre. They symbolise a group within society, representing prevailing morals and attitudes. They are the device which the audience looks to to interpret events and help direct their sympathies. Their entrance to the outside of Medea’s house underscores their words and immediately establishes their position. “I heard her voice…still crying…and my own heart suffers too When Jason’s house is suffering; For this is where my loyalty lies.”(p.21) Their loyalty and concern for Medea is amplified by them going to her, further demonstrating to the audience their obvious interest in her suffering, directing sympathy through their declaration of loyalty; both verbally and physically. Through the Chorus’ support of Medea the author is able to convey the idea of stalwart loyalty in their character, as they rush to her side before even knowing what has happened. Their physical act again emphasises their words, and makes the Chorus a viable guide for the audience to turn to, because they support their words consistently with actions. It is clear that the use of dramatic devices here reinforces the spoken word, however, they lack meaning without words to support.
The appearance of the Chorus on Medea’s doorstep visually allies them to her plight, and their presence, along with the Nurse, consolidates for the audience who supports Medea. It helps to build up the strength and power in Medea’s character, by providing an approving audience for her first speech seen in the play. Her strength is also emphasised by her power to hold the attention of the Chorus, and by extension the audience, before she has even been seen. This draws attention to what Medea is saying, forcing the audience to focus on her feelings of betrayal and anger, and to understand the huge sacrifices she has made. “Mighty Themis! Dread Artemis! Do you see how I am used…By my accursed husband? Oh, may I see Jason and his bride Ground to pieces in their shattered palace For the wrong they have dared to do me, unprovoked! O my father, my city, you I deserted; My brother I shamefully murdered!” (p.22) Her absence from stage lends her words more potency, as the Nurse and Chorus listen at the door. This dramatic device builds a relationship between the audience and Medea, and provides a bank of sympathy for them to draw on when confronted with her abhorrent murders of her sons. Through the spoken word Medea is able to present to the audience how great a wrong has been done to her, with her disembodied voice distinguishing her speech from the rest of the dialogue.
Her entrance to stage is then more dramatic due to the lead up involving the Chorus and the Nurse. The emphasis on Medea created by dramatic devices heightens her authority as a character and generates respect for her in the audience. These qualities were not usually attributed to women, but are consistent with her atypical character. Her passion and anger is highlighted through the previous focus on her words, so when “MEDEA comes out. She is not shaken with weeping, but cool and self-possessed,” (p.23) her appearance challenges the assumptions prevalent in Greek society of women being subject to and unable to control their emotions; making them the weaker of the two sexes. Her composure and immediate, articulate address of the Chorus serves to further underline her weight as a character, and make clear that she is a force to be reckoned with. The effect of her challenging arrival; especially to the body which represents the status quo within Greek society, demonstrates her confidence and convictions, both of which are fundamental in the execution of her plan for revenge. This use of dramatic device then serves to add credence to her words, and convey qualities of her character which assure the audience of her sincerity and resolve.
Throughout Medea, Euripides’ use of dramatic devices can be seen as they work to emphasise direct speech and accentuate traits within the characters. The movement and entrances of the characters, their appearance to the audience and where their speech is directed adds a deeper level of meaning to the spoken word, helping the audience to interpret the story. However, it can be seen that without the words of the play, dramatic devices would have little use, as it is only when they are used with language that they take on any perceptible meaning or significance.