The Chorus and the Soul of the City

The Chorus in Oedipus at Colonus represents more than dramatic convention—it is the moral voice of the community. At first fearful of contamination, the elders of Colonus soon recognise Oedipus as a figure of awe rather than threat. Their change of heart mirrors the transformation the play demands from its audience: from judgement to compassion. Their odes celebrate not only the sanctity of place but the harmony between human virtue and divine order. The famous ‘Ode to Colonus’ praises the olive tree, the horse, and the sea breeze—symbols of Athenian resilience and grace. Through their choral poetry, Sophocles unites civic pride with metaphysical insight, offering a vision of Athens at peace with itself.