Illusions, Imagery and Manipulation In John Lewin’s adaptation of Aeschylus’ Oresteia, many situations throughout establish a lasting tone that characterize the ideas and situations being presented, figurative language and imagery are used very actively throughout all three acts on the Oresteia that depict a lasting tension between the characters. Throughout this trilogy, the characters are characterized directly and indirectly through their words and actions. The poetic language used throughout is made up of metaphors and similes, they make a large contribution when it comes to setting the overall tone of this Greek tragedy.
Act one opens in medias res, focusing on Clytemnestra's plan to murder Agamemnon in order to “even things out”. Act one starts out with the watchmen, he had been placed on the roof by the “man-hearted women who rules the palace” (1.9-10), Clytemnestra is made
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She has been in control of the kingdom while Agamemnon has been away fighting in the Trojan war, the watchmen expresses how displeased he is with Clytemnestra's reign as ruler, “let me see my master again; put his hand back on the reins” (1.24). Illusions and figurative language play a more active role as he continues his rant as to how things have changed for the worse, “I cannot speak; an ox stands huge on my tongue. If the stones of that palace could talk, you would hear a tale” (1.26-27), this quote paints a mental image of the secrets held within the walls of Argos and foreshadows the sudden death of Agamemnon. The chorus enters and gives a brief recap as to why Clytemnestra has become such a despicable women referencing the loss of Iphigenia and the infidelity she has committed with Aegisthus white Agamemnon has been away, the figurative language used really help the reader visualize the events being portrayed. The man-hearted woman herself is introduced and she proceeds to immediately foreshadow the death of Agamemnon, “this was a night blessed above all other nights,