How does the Chorus react to the guard's news about the burial?

The Chorus in "Antigone" reacts to the guard's news about the burial with outrage and paranoia, interpreting the act of burial as being influenced or orchestrated by the gods. This reaction is fitting because the Chorus serves as a voice of the Theban elders, representing the moral and ethical standards of society. Their response reveals a deep-rooted belief in divine intervention and the consequences that follow when individuals go against established laws and order, as exemplified by the act of burying Polyneices, which directly defies Creon’s edict.

The themes of fate and the power of the gods are prevalent throughout the play, and the Chorus’s reaction emphasizes their perception that the unrest in the city is a reflection of divine anger or displeasure. This belief enhances the tension in the play, as it foreshadows the inevitable conflict between the laws of man, as represented by Creon, and the unwritten laws of the gods, which Antigone seeks to uphold. This understanding allows the Chorus to articulate the gravity of the situation and establishes the moral stakes involved in the unfolding tragedy.