Chorus

Traditionally in Greek tragedies, the chorus consists of masked actors who dance and chant. Generally, they do not participate in the action itself, which allows them to remain objective and offer advice or commentary. They often present background information and represent the community's position or traditional values. In the Mourning Becomes Electra trilogy, the groups of local people whose conversations and actions open the plays serve as the chorus.

Expressionism

Expressionism is a style of art that expresses internal experiences and psychological truth. Such art does not present a realistic image of world, but instead tries to create in the viewer a powerful "true" experience of a particular emotion, feeling, or state of mind.

Many of O'Neill's plays have expressionistic elements: masks, which conceal the actor's faces; and asides, in which actors address the audience without others on stage hearing. Expressionistic elements in Mourning Becomes Electra include the...