In this play, the chorus represents the elder citizens of Colonus. Sophocles's choruses react to the events of the play. The chorus speaks as one voice, or sometimes through the voice of its leader. It praises, damns, cowers in fear, asks or offers advice, and generally helps the audience interpret the play.
The Chorus Quotes in Oedipus at Colonus
The Oedipus at Colonus quotes below are all either spoken by The Chorus or refer to The Chorus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 1-576
Quotes
Off and gone from the land—before you fix
some greater penalty on our city.
some greater penalty on our city.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 1193-1645
Quotes
Like a seer I sense the glory in these struggles—
Rush me, wing me into the whirlwind, O dear god,
like a dove at the thunderheads of heaven I'd look down
I'd scan these struggles, I would see their glory.
Rush me, wing me into the whirlwind, O dear god,
like a dove at the thunderheads of heaven I'd look down
I'd scan these struggles, I would see their glory.
Show me a man who longs to live a day beyond his time
who turns his back on a decent length of life,
I'll show the world a man who clings to folly.
who turns his back on a decent length of life,
I'll show the world a man who clings to folly.
Not to be born is best
when all is reckoned in, but once a man has seen the light
the next best thing, by far, is to go back
back where he came from, quickly as he can.
when all is reckoned in, but once a man has seen the light
the next best thing, by far, is to go back
back where he came from, quickly as he can.
Lines 1646-2001
Quotes
God of eternal sleep, I call to you,
let Oedipus rest forever.
let Oedipus rest forever.
Get the entire Oedipus at Colonus LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Chorus Quotes in Oedipus at Colonus
The Oedipus at Colonus quotes below are all either spoken by The Chorus or refer to The Chorus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Lines 1-576
Quotes
Off and gone from the land—before you fix
some greater penalty on our city.
some greater penalty on our city.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Lines 1193-1645
Quotes
Like a seer I sense the glory in these struggles—
Rush me, wing me into the whirlwind, O dear god,
like a dove at the thunderheads of heaven I'd look down
I'd scan these struggles, I would see their glory.
Rush me, wing me into the whirlwind, O dear god,
like a dove at the thunderheads of heaven I'd look down
I'd scan these struggles, I would see their glory.
Show me a man who longs to live a day beyond his time
who turns his back on a decent length of life,
I'll show the world a man who clings to folly.
who turns his back on a decent length of life,
I'll show the world a man who clings to folly.
Not to be born is best
when all is reckoned in, but once a man has seen the light
the next best thing, by far, is to go back
back where he came from, quickly as he can.
when all is reckoned in, but once a man has seen the light
the next best thing, by far, is to go back
back where he came from, quickly as he can.
Lines 1646-2001
Quotes
God of eternal sleep, I call to you,
let Oedipus rest forever.
let Oedipus rest forever.