Essay On Adaptation Of Identity In Helen And Aura

Often, what we see may not be consistent with what we believe, and as a result cause us confusion. Illusion is usually used in the form of disguise where a mask is put on by an individual to hide the person’s identity. This is the common method by which illusion is used; however, a more complex and multidimensional use of illusion is to cause mystification by creating a situation where a person’s blatant identity is put into question. In such instances, the questioned individual wears a metaphorical mask that is identical to, or closely resembles, the person himself. Even though the “masked” character visually appears and behaves similar to the original, those who are close to the doubted person do not right away grasp or accept that the two are the same individuals. In Helen, by Euripides, and Aura, by Carlos Fuentes, both husbands do not instantly recognize and believe that the women who appeared in front of their eyes are the long-lost wives they were seeking for. While Aura is different from Helen in that the author made variations to his work, I argue that Aura is an adaptation of Helen because they both masterfully use the element of illusion to “hide” the wives’ identities from their husbands in quest for self-understanding and eventual reunion. In Euripides’ Helen, the existence of a duplicate of the daughter of Zeus is used to trick …show more content…
While they have similarities, such as both involving a “mask” put on the wives to conceal their identities from their respective husbands, they have differences in the ways in which reconciliation is reached. Both pieces exemplify the power of illusion on a deeper level by showing how it can cause characters to be delusional and miss even the most obvious points. In the two works, the use of illusion allowed for a meaningful understanding of one’s self and others, thus setting the stage for a beautiful