Cassandra

Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays by Christa Wolf

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Christa Wolf's stream-of-consciousness account of the mythological Cassandra, imprisoned and waiting to be executed by the vengeful Clytemnestra, is a fascinating study of an ancient world, of patriarchy, and of a universal humanity.

The novel is not broken into chapters, but that is an appropriate way to chronicle the relentless thoughts that torment Cassandra in her prison. Ultimately, despite the necessarily grim tone surrounding details of the Trojan War, there is something victorious in Cassandra's narration, and in her refusal to give up her authentic self.

Wolf examines themes of loss, womanhood, vulnerable humanity, and the connection between art and the destruction of culture.





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