Abstract 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."
Tags: history, greek, mythology, trojan, war, perception
Abstract This paper examines how the character of Cassandra in the ancient drama "Agamemnon", first in the Oresteia trilogy written by the Greek playwright Aeschylus, initially may seem relevant only as a secondary character who appears in a minor scene. It attempts to show how Cassandra provides very necessary, crucial elements to the plot and dramatic action which help to portray Aeschylus' messages concerning justice and vengeance. It also looks at how one of the most important aspects of Cassandra's character is her unique style of prophetic vision, which allows her to foresee the past, present and future, yet denies her the luxury of actually being believed in her predictions.
From the Paper "One basic reason why Cassandra apparently does not actively assist the play in advancing its dramatic action is that she does not actually act at all. Her character only speaks and passively conveys information to the chorus and audience about what will happen, instead of aggressively making things happen. Despite this fact, the information with which she provides us is crucial to our comprehensive understanding of the entire Oresteia trilogy and its background. In particular, Cassandra aids us by developing the theme of justice as well as by informing the audience of essential background knowledge."
Abstract While Agamemnon is the title character of Aeschylus' play it is Cassandra who, both as prophetess and victim, stands at the play's center. This paper explores the circumstantial and symbolic background against which the events of this play are set and considers Clytaemnestra's motives for killing Agamemnon and Cassandra.
From the Paper "Aeschylus calls his play Agamemnon, but this is not because Agamemnon is its main character; on the contrary, Agamemnon is actually a particularly flat character in the drama. He enters the play midway, makes two speeches (Agamemnon lines 794-839 and 907-924), each of which is paralleled in the text by a speech of equal length by Clytaemnestra. Then, after a quick interchange with his wife (11.925-955) Agamemnon enters his palace and is not heard from (with the exception of his death cries) or seen (alive) again. Even the Herald, whose role in the drama (unlike that of the messenger in Oedipus and Antigone) is not particularly important (since his main task is to confirm the signal fire's report of the victory at Troy), speaks many more lines than the title character. The real tragic hero of Agamemnon is Cassandra..."
Abstract This paper discusses the novel, "Cassandra," written by Christa Wolf. It discusses how the novel is a woman's view on war and why it is given such importance. The paper discusses the plot of the story and the style in which Wolf wrote it. The paper briefly compares Wolf's "Cassandra" with Homer's "Iliad" which is an account written by a man on the same topic.
From the Paper "In Cassandra however, he can still boast but doesn't always get away with it. In a rather accusatory and insulting tone, Wolf referred to Achilles in this way: "A fiend in battle so that everyone would see he was not a coward, he did not know what to do with himself once the fighting was done...And this is the man to whom Calchas the seer later had to turn over his daughter." (83) Cassandra believed that Achilles' brave soldier act was but only a facade. While Homer mentions facts to capture the essence of Achilles' personality, Wolf uses observation and perception to get her results. The bottom line was the same in both cases: Achilles was an arrogant fool. But Homer said it in much different manner than Wolf. And this is what sets Cassandra apart from male accounts of Trojan War."
Abstract The paper examines Christopher Buckley's novel "Boomsday" and identifies the relevant policy windows and the solution put forward by the heroine Cassandra Devine. The paper analyzes how Cassandra's idea first got attention and how various influential constituencies and events affected the progress of that agenda toward real implementation. The paper notes that Cassandra failed in her ultimate objective to avenge herself against her father.
From the Paper "A policy window is a moment in political time and history where there is a unique confluence of an idea and an opportunity to enact change. The idea must also be fueled by public demand that something must be done about a pressing concern. The establishment of the Social Security system during the Great Depression, under the guidance of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, when America was in a state of crisis and when Americans doubted the ability of capitalism to work might be seen as one example of a policy window. In Christopher Buckley's novel Boomsday, another policy window opens as a result of the failure of the Social Security system. This America of the future is embroiled in a war it cannot afford. It is facing the impending payout of entitlements to older Americans it cannot sustain in the long term, certainly not for the current generation still paying into the system so their elders can benefit."
Abstract The paper is written in the form of a legal argument by the prosecuting counsel. The writer argues that, when her trial began, there was no question that Clytemnestra was guilty of the murder of her husband Agamemnon and the slave Cassandra. The paper discusses how not only was she seen holding the murder weapon by the Chorus, but the prophet Cassandra indicated that Clytemnestra was killing Agamemnon and would be the instrument of Cassandra's death. In addition, Clytemnestra freely admitted that she committed both murders. The paper shows how Clytemnestra deserves the highest penalty possible: the death penalty.
From the Paper "On the surface, Clytemnestra's argument that she murdered Agamemnon for the good of Argos has some appeal; it is unquestioned that he led Argos in war against Troy. However, a deeper investigation of the argument reveals its weaknesses. The first weakness is that the Argonauts supported the war. They believed that Paris had abused Menelaus' hospitality by seducing Helen. In addition, they believed that Paris abused their state hospitality by doing so. The argument's second weakness is that, even if the Argonauts had not supported the war, Clytemnestra's actions did nothing to reduce either the duration or the severity of the war."
Tags: Aegisthus, war, justice, Trojan, revenge, killing
Abstract This paper summarizes Euripedes play "The Trojan Woman", and argues that the play is a great tragedy. It looks at the drama and tragic fate of the noble women of fallen Troy. The paper also examines the suffering of the female royal characters of Hecuba, Cassandra, Andromache. It looks at Helen as the character who undergoes less suffering.
Abstract This paper explores the styles of ancient Greek art and the depiction of mythological and heroic images in art. The paper devotes time to describing the Mykonos amphora, the combination of scenes that depicts acts of Greek brutality and violence. The paper also describes many other pieces of pottery and art that are representations of the Trojan War's climactic events and discusses the tendency to merge together disparate episodes of the Iliad narrative. The writer opines that the images and depictions found on a great variety of ancient Greek pottery provide a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and artistic world of one of the first societies to practice democracy and to explain the natural world in scientific terms.
From the Paper "In essence, the oral history of the Trojan War has come down to us through the epic poem the Iliad by the Greek poet Homer who composed this famous account of the conflict between the Trojans and the Greeks sometime during the 8th century BCE and the Ilioupersis ("The Sack of Ilion") by Arktinos of Miletos which survives only in a few ancient references (Magrath, 2002). The basic tale of the Trojan War relates events that allegedly occurred some five hundred years prior to the writing of the Iliad and the Ilioupersis, circa the 13th century BCE during the Mycenaean Period in ancient Greece."
Tags: Trojan, War, Mykonos, amphora, Achaeans, Helen, Menelaus, Cassandra, Astyanax
