Helen
The description of "Helen with her long golden hair arranged over her red dress, matched by the gold embroidery which decorated every hem and the ropes of gold she wore around her neck and her wrists" creates a vivid image of Helen as a queenly figure of wealth and beauty. This imagery reinforces the idea that Helen is a woman of great value, which is why the Greeks were willing to sail as far as Troy and besiege the city to take her home. The image of Helen in her luxurious clothing highlights the cost of the Greeks' quest and the lengths they were willing to go to reclaim her.
Seaweed
Haynes uses the imagery of seaweed to describe the danger that Laocoon's children faced. She writes, "The seaweed grew in huge fronds, Creusa knew. As a child, her nurse had warned her never to enter the water in search of the dark green tentacles. While the seaweed's fingertips were thin enough for a child to tear, the body of the plant was thick and fibrous. It would have been all too easy to stumble and lose her footing." This imagery of seaweed creates an ominous atmosphere, hinting at the danger lurking in the water and the potential for disaster. It also serves as a representation of the situation in Troy, suggesting that something seemingly innocuous, like seaweed, can be a source of danger. The imagery of seaweed is effective in conveying a sense of dread and highlighting the fragility of life.
Iphigenia
Iphigenia’s wedding dress is described as being "saffron-coloured," which implies a bright yellowish-orange hue. It is also described as being "packed into a box, safe from the bleaching sun and the billowing dust," which creates a vivid image of the dress being preserved for Iphigenia's wedding day. Moreover, the dress is further described as being able to "set off perfectly" Iphigenia's "dark hair" and to make her "look her best" when seen from the correct angle. This imagery creates a picture of Iphigenia looking beautiful and radiant on her wedding day. It emphasizes the importance of the dress and its ability to make Iphigenia look stunning, while also providing a physical representation of the hope that her beauty will impress her groom. In this way, the imagery of the saffron wedding dress serves as a powerful image of Iphigenia's dreams, hopes, and expectations for her wedding day.
Men to Swines
The imagery of transformation is used to depict Circe's cruel act of turning Odysseus's men into pigs. This description is used to show the shock and horror that Eurylochus experienced when he witnessed the transformation. Haynes writes, "First their arms shortened, and then their legs, and then they tipped forward onto all fours. Their faces were suddenly bristling with blonde hairs. Their teeth sprouted from either side of their jaws, and their noses turned up into snouts." This imagery of transformation is used to show the drastic change in the men's bodies and the fear that Eurylochus felt. The imagery thus serves to illustrate the power of Circe and her ability to manipulate her victims, while also reflecting the theme of transformation that runs throughout the novel.
