Tragedy Journal 11 (Blood Wedding Act 3)

Act 3 of Blood Wedding contains many scenes with minor characters that act as detached spectators to the main events that are occuring in the play. This can be compared to Sophocles' Oedipus, which contains a chorus which is more detached from the rest of the play. Both of these groups express pity for the main tragic character in the play.

The group of woodcutters in Blood Wedding could represent a small chorus in a Greek tragedy, they express pity for the eloping couple:

SECOND WOODCUTTER. They should leave them alone.
FIRST WOODCUTTER. The world is wide - everyone can live in it.
THIRD WOODCUTTER. But they will kill them.
SECOND WOODCUTTER. You must follow your heart. They did well to run away. (Lorca 3.1)

Federico Garcia Lorca utilizes these minor characters to offer feedback about the controversial actions of Leonardo and the Bride. Soceital expectations are being questioned, and Lorca is supporting them through these detached characters. Although Lorca does express the positives of individuality in this passage, he still talks about the hopelessness of going against the grain of society, "But they will kill them".

Sophocles uses a chorus instead of minor characters, and he does make the purpose of the chorus slightly different from Lorca. The chorus plays a very big role in Oedipus, not only to pity Oedipus but also to act as a response to label Oedipus as a tragic hero, "But whether a mere man can know the truth, whether a seer can fathom more than I - there is no test, no certain proof [...] No, not till I see these charges proved will I side with his accusers. [...] saw with our own eyes his skill, his brilliant triumph - [...] Never will I convict my king, never in my heart" (Sophocles 563-572). Because of the chorus's admiration for Oedipus, it accentuates his downfall. Even so, the chorus is shaken by this prophecy that Tiresias delivers. Sophocles mainly focuses on how the chorus is used to heighten the drama in the play instead of delivering a certain opinion or message.