The wheel of justice grinds forever on and we are grist beneath it as it spins, ground down for all the sins of those who’ve gone, as others will be broken for our sins. Their blood cried out to us; ours calls again; the wheel grinds on; the wind unceasing blows; the count of crimes to answer only grows. I lied once, to the god and to myself, that I would love him for his promised gift, this sight that sunder shadows ever delves for precious truth.
The encounter of Cassandra and Clytemnestra is such a rich vein, I have always wondered why no one has mined it. You have struck rich ore by having Cassandra foresee the coming of Christ and to see in it the eventual transcendence of tragedy. Well done.
I had a fantasy once of a one act play where Cassandra, meeting Clytemnestra, finds the Queen to be the first person to believe her prophecies. Clytemnestra proceeds to take revenge on Agamemnon knowing before hand of Orestes retribution, and kills Cassandra at Cassandra's request - as an act of merci.
If you're in the middle of the Oresteia, I dare to make two recommendations: Tony Harrison's translation/interpretation of the Oresteia, and...this is where the daring comes in...my Women of Greece. I've got all three parts posted. I wonder what your thoughts on both would be.
Oh, Women of Greece is not my version of the Oresteia, just inspired by it. You should definitely check out the Harrison version. Love it or hate it, it will blow your mind. Actually, there are videos on YouTube. Let me go get the link.
Oh, I watched this back in college! My head of department was a huge fan of it and made all the freshmen watch it. He even staged a (close-enough-to-be-a-rip-off) production the year before I started. I don't remember the language -- just the staging. I'll have to watch it again.
Okay, I was misremembering. This is not what we watched in college, but it has a similar design, which explains my mistake. Now that I have watched this: The translation is interesting, but I am not sure it's entirely successful. I think there are a lot of awkward phrases that are only there to get a rhyme or keep the rhythm- and I'm not sure that rhythm is worth it. Yes, I know the Greek choruses were sung, and I'm no scholar if Greek, so I can't read those choruses in anything but translation. But the music seemed to get in the way of the story, here, rather than augment it.
The impact of this ominous rumination takes away the breath. Will have to let it stir around in my own business for a bit - both to let it do its work and perhaps then to further comment. Thank you~
The encounter of Cassandra and Clytemnestra is such a rich vein, I have always wondered why no one has mined it. You have struck rich ore by having Cassandra foresee the coming of Christ and to see in it the eventual transcendence of tragedy. Well done.
I had a fantasy once of a one act play where Cassandra, meeting Clytemnestra, finds the Queen to be the first person to believe her prophecies. Clytemnestra proceeds to take revenge on Agamemnon knowing before hand of Orestes retribution, and kills Cassandra at Cassandra's request - as an act of merci.
Good poem!
Oh, that would be a great one-act play!
If you're in the middle of the Oresteia, I dare to make two recommendations: Tony Harrison's translation/interpretation of the Oresteia, and...this is where the daring comes in...my Women of Greece. I've got all three parts posted. I wonder what your thoughts on both would be.
I'm just reading the old Lattimore and Greene editions I had on my shelf from college. I'll check yours out!
Oh, Women of Greece is not my version of the Oresteia, just inspired by it. You should definitely check out the Harrison version. Love it or hate it, it will blow your mind. Actually, there are videos on YouTube. Let me go get the link.
Here you go: https://youtu.be/mdv3vkECqXA?si=b8PTDuhsPe8RNoeW
Oh, I watched this back in college! My head of department was a huge fan of it and made all the freshmen watch it. He even staged a (close-enough-to-be-a-rip-off) production the year before I started. I don't remember the language -- just the staging. I'll have to watch it again.
Okay, I was misremembering. This is not what we watched in college, but it has a similar design, which explains my mistake. Now that I have watched this: The translation is interesting, but I am not sure it's entirely successful. I think there are a lot of awkward phrases that are only there to get a rhyme or keep the rhythm- and I'm not sure that rhythm is worth it. Yes, I know the Greek choruses were sung, and I'm no scholar if Greek, so I can't read those choruses in anything but translation. But the music seemed to get in the way of the story, here, rather than augment it.
I have now gone and found the one we watched in college, which, as it turns out, wasn't even the Oresteia: https://youtu.be/u4hrXadN_fc?si=EqYWdvQ5-rCm732O
Thanks for the link!
And if you want more 1980s experimental theater takes on Greek classics, you should check out The Gospel at Colonus: https://youtu.be/8ZyQP_zrD2U?si=tpyZmCZRgw06oGPt
The impact of this ominous rumination takes away the breath. Will have to let it stir around in my own business for a bit - both to let it do its work and perhaps then to further comment. Thank you~
This is very beautiful. The story of Cassandra is tragic and a worthy subject.
Thank you so much!