Cassandra: A Woman Scorned

Paper Summary:

The writer of this paper contends and explains why few heroines of Greek mythology have been as mistreated as Cassandra. This writer discusses the many websites devoted to characters from Greek mythology that view Cassandra in generally negative terms. One site quotes a number of contemporary mythologists, calling Cassandra "very beautiful, but quite unbalanced," not only in terms of the way she was perceived in the eyes of others, but also in terms of her priorities as a priestess and a woman. This paper briefly examines the life of Cassandra, daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, recipient of the gift of prophecy. This paper focuses on the turbulent relationship between Cassandra and Apollo. This paper also discusses Cassandra's involvement in the Trojan War, which brought about her demise.

From the Paper:

"Such a misogynist view reflects the modern association of chastity or sexual continence with repression, forgetting that chastity in the Greek world was often a contingent quality and status for remaining a priestesses. The oracle at Delphi was chaste, as were the follower of Artemis, goddess of the moon-thus by asking her to give up her chastity, Apollo was essentially asking Cassandra to give up her holy status as a religious priestess and oracular voice, by sacrificing her continence to him. Granted, Apollo was the source of Cassandra' gift. But remember that Apollo's sister, Artemis was chaste, as was the goddess of wisdom Athena. Chastity enabled a woman to be free of the burdens of childbearing and keeping a home for a husband, thus Cassandra's desire to remain chaste was only understandable, for an intelligent and articulate woman possessing an extraordinary religious gift of insight and interpretation."

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