Chorus Leader Character Analysis in Alcestis

The chorus leader represents the chorus as a whole, interacting directly with Admetos and his household. In particular, he praises Alcestis as an incomparable queen and questions the actions of major characters, such as Herakles and especially Admetos. He is an example of a good and loyal friend in the play.

Chorus Leader Quotes in Alcestis

The Alcestis quotes below are all either spoken by Chorus Leader or refer to Chorus Leader. 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:

).

MAID Sir, the queen is dying. . . .
LEADER Oh, Alcestis, Alcestis!
What a loss. Poor Admetos, how I pity him. . . .
MAID The master does not know the meaning of his loss.
He will not know, until it is too late.
LEADER Nothing can be done to save her?
MAID Nothing. This is the day. Her destiny is too strong,
a force she cannot fight.

Related Characters: Chorus Leader (speaker), Maid (speaker), King Admetos , Alcestis

Page Number and Citation: 41

Explanation and Analysis:

HERAKLES: I have a labor to perform. Eurystheus is my master.
He commands, and I obey.

LEADER What is your mission? And where are you bound?

HERAKLES A long, hard journey.
My destination’s Thrace. My orders are to capture
Diomedes’ horses.

LEADER Diomedes’ horses? It can’t be done,
Herakles. Surely you’ve heard of Diomedes?
[…] Those horses are wild. They can’t be broken.

HERAKLES Can’t be broken?

LEADER Not without a fight, they can’t.

HERAKLES Fighting’s what I do.
My labors are my life. I can’t refuse.

Related Characters: Herakles (speaker), Chorus Leader (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 57

Explanation and Analysis:

CHORUS: —It had to be. We cannot choose our fates.
—A man can fight. But not with life,
not with death.
—Accept it like a man.
—Hard, hard, I know.
—Be brave, Admetos.
—Courage. Others too have lost their wives.
—Some soon, some late, every man is curbed
by suffering or fate.
—Now it is your turn.

[…]

LEADER: Your luck had been good, Admetos. High happiness and great wealth—both were yours. So when this sorrow struck so suddenly, it found you unprepared. Suffering was something you had never known.

Related Characters: Chorus Leader (speaker), Chorus (speaker), King Admetos

Page Number and Citation: 81

Explanation and Analysis:

Chorus Leader Character Timeline in Alcestis

The timeline below shows where the character Chorus Leader appears in Alcestis. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...chorus, a group of elderly citizens of Pherai, gather at the palace entrance. The chorus leader, noting the house’s silence, wonders if Alcestis still lives. “If bravery and love deserve the... (full context)

Obligation, Limitations, and Fate Theme Icon

...vain for the customary signs of death, knowing that Alcestis’s death has been decreed. The leader observes that “When the good are hurt, those who love them suffer too. / We... (full context)

The chorus leader sees that Alcestis’s maid is coming out of the palace; she is weeping. He asks... (full context)

The chorus leader praises Alcestis as “incomparably a queen” with no earthly rival. The maid agrees, saying that... (full context)

...for a last view of the light. The maid excuses herself to announce the chorus leader’s arrival, adding, “It isn’t everyone who cares about this house / or is ready to... (full context)

...the gods on Alcestis’s behalf. They also wonder how Admetos can live without her, the leader adding: “Not for love, / but something more than love, Alcestis dies for you today.”... (full context)

The chorus leader tells Admetos that he will “stand beside you now, as friends should stand / and... (full context)

Just then Herakles enters and greets the chorus. The chorus leader asks what business brings him to Thessaly. Herakles explains that he has a labor to... (full context)

The chorus leader explains that Diomedes is Ares’ fierce son, and Herakles says that this is just another... (full context)

After Herakles is escorted into the palace, the chorus leader asks if Admetos is crazy. Admetos says he can’t turn away a friend. He has... (full context)