Wind
Wind is situated as the symbol of random fate or destiny. Nonetheless, in mythology, fate is never entirely random because there is always some god or goddess somewhere doing their part to meddle in the lives of puny humanity.
Light
Light is constantly paralleled with life and Iphigenia. Likewise, the loss of life is paralleled with death. Thus, throughout the text light becomes a symbol of life especially as it concerns the approaching sacrificial death of Iphigenia.
Stag
The deer which is said by the messenger to have miraculously taken the place of Iphigenia at the site of her sacrifice becomes by virtue of taking her place her stand-in. The goddess of the hunt, Artemis, is responsible for this last-minute switcheroo and the stag is well known as the favorite of her animals. Therefore, the stag not only takes over the symbolism of sacrificing oneself for the greater good which has been invested in Iphigenia, but also become symbolic of the esteem and regard which Artemis expresses toward Iphigenia for taking on this sacrificial role.
Yoke of Necessity
In an allusion to an earlier play by Aeschylus, Agamemnon bemoans the horrific situation fate has placed him in by asking rhetorically asking, “Horrible Fate, what a dreadful yoke you’ve locked me into!” The reference to the earlier play is directly tied to the symbolism of being caught within the “yoke of necessity” which creates the anxiety of indecision over choosing between two equally terrible paths.
Helen of Troy
Helen’s symbolic status in the play is not couched in fancy language or ambiguity. It is rather made plain because of the sheer volume of characters who express that status and the number of times they express it. It is not difficult to figure out what symbolic role the unseen and unheard Helen plays in this little drama:
“So, my sweet darling must face this horrible fate because of the need to bring Helen back?”
“That’s what they’ll be saying; and all this because of you, Helen!”
“You, evil Helen! You are the cause of this miserable conflict between the sons of Atreas and their children!”
