Helen on eighty sixth street allusions?

Answer 1

In Helen on Eighty Sixth street, Vita's mother describes Helen by stating "Well, her father was a swan and her mother was too young to have children. You don't want to be Helen...". The swan is an allusion for her father. There is also the ocean, an allusion for her mother missing her father. She says "That night I dreamed about a swan. A swan that flies in circles over the ocean...". At the end she says "I look into a darkened house and for a second, I can hear the beating of a swan's wings,and, then, nothing at all."

Answer 2

"Helen on 86th Street" alludes to the myth of Helen of Troy from Greek mythology. The story parallels the character Helen who is cast as Helen of Troy in a school play, bringing themes of beauty, love, and betrayal into the modern setting of New York City. By referencing this mythological figure, the play explores timeless themes of desire, conflict, and fate.