What metaphors are used in A Children's Tragedy by Frank Wedekind?

Wedekind makes extensive use of symbolic imagery in the play, A Children's Tragedy. The river, the woods, and the hayloft are all places where nature is prevalent, and in these natural settings, the natural instincts of the adolescents take over, leading to both sex and violence. The rape scene in the hayloft takes place in darkness, reflecting the hidden and taboo nature of sexuality. The vineyard, where Ernst and Hänschen's gay love affair takes place, is also an area of nature, and the grapes are a symbol of pleasure, a reminder of Dionysius.