How does Aeschylus use images of light and darkness in the Oresteia?

In the Oresteia, Aeschylus employs light and darkness as a central motif to orchestrate the trilogy’s dramatic and thematic progression. Rather than using such imagery merely for decoration, he integrates these contrasts into the narrative to reflect the shifting moral and political landscape of the house of Atreus.1

These motifs are part of a broader "dramatic orchestration" that Aeschylus uses to explore complex issues, including the transition from a cycle of retributive blood vengeance to the establishment of the rule of law and state justice. By weaving these recurring images throughout the plays, he links the characters' plights and the destiny of the community to the broader moral order overseen by the gods.21

While the Oresteia is noted for its depiction of evil and the darkness of human vengeance, Aeschylus uniquely concludes the trilogy with a movement toward reconciliation and joy, effectively using these light-and-dark motifs to mirror the resolution of the cycle of violence.1