Final answer:
The Chorus in Euripedes' Medea plays the role of empathetic commentator and voice of reason, often providing insight into the characters' emotions and actions. Their presence contrasts with playwrights who use the Chorus differently, both in terms of integration into the narrative and relevance to the subject matter. Essentially, the Chorus helps to emphasize themes of moderation, empathy, and rationality versus madness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the Chorus in Greek tragedy, particularly in relation to Euripedes' Medea, can serve as a symbol of moderation and reflect societal norms and values. In some instances, the Chorus can function as an emotional barometer, empathizing with characters like Medea, and providing logical commentary on the actions unfolding onstage. Euripedes is known for his focus on humanizing his characters and for presenting strong female protagonists, which led to the Chorus sometimes being more of a commentator than an active participant in the drama.
In Euripedes' Medea, the Chorus is composed of all female characters that not only provide sympathy and empathy towards Medea's plight but also serve as a voice of reason, pointing out the logical injustices, such as those seen in their interactions highlighting Jason's betrayal ('you have betrayed your wife and are behaving unjustly'). This contrasts with earlier tragedians like Sophocles, who integrated the Chorus more tightly into the action of the play, and later playwrights, whose Choruses provided little relevance to the play's subject matter.
Additionally, there is a thematic element of the Chorus intersecting with concepts of madness and rationality. Euripedes' plays often explore the balance between these two extremes, as observed in the narratives contemplating potential acts of violence performed with or without knowledge of their full implications. The Chorus may inquire about such acts, speculate on the state of a character's mind, and observe the consequences of the actions undertaken by central figures.