Boats Gliding Through the Water (Auditory Imagery)
When guests begin to arrive, the stage notes say: "We hear the sound of a boat gliding through the water." This auditory imagery gives the reader the impression that while the guests are invisible, the outside world has some bearing on the events of the play. Even if the guests remain unseen, their presence still has some audible effect.
No Feeling in the Feet (Haptic Imagery)
While trying to woo Belle's invisible husband, the old woman requests medical attention, saying: "I haven't any feeling in my feet." This haptic imagery appears as part of a laundry list of medical complaints she has. It works to portray her as absurdly unwell and aged.
Empty Chairs (Visual Imagery)
One of the most striking images in the play is when the orator is about to begin speaking: "He faces the rows of empty chairs." This visual imagery serves to highlight the sparseness of the room and underscores the absurd formality of this man addressing a room that appears to be empty.
Bad Smelling Water (Olfactory Imagery)
At the beginning of the play, the old woman says "There's a bad smell from that stagnant water." This terse description of a "bad smell" suggests that the water has been unclean and unmoving for a long time. This olfactory imagery effectively sets the scene early on in the story.
