Agamemnon
Agamemnon is described as being like an "oak," in Electra, cut down by his wife. This use of symbolism depicts Agamemnon as being steadfast and strong, like an oak. This from the perspective of Electra, who sees her father as being killed unfairly.
Grief
Grief is a recurring motif in Anne Carson's translations, which isn't surprising considering the originals are often Greek tragedies. For example, in her translation of Euripides' Four Plays, Hecuba suffers from grief after the murders of her daughter Polyxena and her son Polydorus.
Liminal spaces
In Electra, liminal spaces like doorways and entryways symbolize Electra's uncertainty of her own stance. She is a confused person due to the events that have transpired within her family, and so she has a lot of indecision about who she is and what her duty is.
Electra's knot
Electra's desire to avenge her father's death is symbolized as a knot. She claims that nobody can untie this knot, symbolizing the fact that her upset seemingly cannot be untangled.
Modern phrases
Modern phrases are a key motif in Anne Carson's translations. She often uses phrases we might recognize as modern readers, such as "No Kidding," as quoted from her translation of Orestes by Euripides.
