'Cassandra' by Robinson Jeffers
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The mad girl with the staring eyes and long white fingers
Hooked in the stones of the wall,
The storm-wrack hair and screeching mouth: does it matter, Cassandra,
Whether the people believe
Your bitter fountain? Truly men hate the truth, they'd liefer
Meet a tiger on the road.
Therefore the poets honey their truth with lying; but religion—
Vendors and political men
Pour from the barrel, new lies on the old, and are praised for kind
Wisdom. Poor bitch be wise.
No: you'll still mumble in a corner a crust of truth, to men
And gods disgusting—you and I, Cassandra.
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
Cassandra by Robinson Jeffers
Oh my, where do I even begin with this masterpiece of a poem?! Cassandra by Robinson Jeffers is an epic in every sense of the word - from its stunning language to its captivating narrative. But before I dive into my interpretation and criticism of this work of art, let me give you a little background on the poet himself.
Robinson Jeffers was an American poet, born in 1887 in Pennsylvania. He spent most of his life in California, where he became known for his environmentalist and anti-war themes. He was also a master of the narrative poem, as evidenced by his most famous work, Tamar. But today, I want to focus on Cassandra, which was published in 1937.
The Narrative
Cassandra is a retelling of the Greek myth of the Trojan War. But instead of focusing on the exploits of the heroes and gods, Jeffers chooses to give voice to Cassandra, the doomed prophetess who was cursed to always speak the truth but never be believed. In this poem, Cassandra tells her own story, from her childhood in Troy to her capture by the Greeks and eventual death.
The narrative of the poem is broken up into four parts, each representing a different stage in Cassandra's life. The first part focuses on her early years in Troy, where she is already aware of her prophetic abilities. Jeffers paints a vivid picture of the young Cassandra, with her "wild eyes" and "dark hair". We see her struggling with the burden of her knowledge, as she wanders the streets of Troy, warning of the impending doom.
In the second part of the poem, we see Cassandra's capture by the Greeks. Jeffers uses beautiful language to describe the scene - the "stately ships" and the "gleaming helmets" of the Greek soldiers. But the focus is always on Cassandra, as she is dragged away from her home and family. We feel her pain and her rage as she curses the Greeks and their gods.
The third part of the poem takes place in the Greek camp, where Cassandra is imprisoned and forced to serve as a slave. Here, Jeffers again demonstrates his mastery of language, as he describes the "dank dark" cell where Cassandra is kept. We feel her isolation and despair as she rails against her fate.
Finally, in the fourth and final part of the poem, we see Cassandra's death. Jeffers paints a haunting picture of the scene - the "slippery stones" of the temple where she is killed, the "fierce-eyed priest" who does the deed. But even in death, Cassandra is defiant, as she curses the gods who have doomed her to this fate.
The Themes
There are so many themes to unpack in this poem that it's hard to know where to start. But perhaps the most obvious one is the theme of prophecy. Cassandra is cursed to always speak the truth but never be believed. She knows that Troy will fall, that her family will be killed, that she herself will be captured and enslaved. But no one listens to her. She is dismissed as mad, as a liar, as a troublemaker. And yet, she never stops speaking the truth. She never gives up on her prophetic vision, even when it brings her nothing but pain and suffering.
Another theme that runs through the poem is that of war. Jeffers was a staunch pacifist, and his anti-war sentiments are evident in this poem. We see the horrors of war through Cassandra's eyes - the destruction of her home, the death of her family, the capture and enslavement of her people. And yet, the Greeks are celebrated as heroes, even as they commit unspeakable atrocities. Jeffers is asking us to question our glorification of war, to see it for the senseless violence that it is.
The theme of gender also plays a significant role in this poem. Cassandra is a woman in a man's world. She is dismissed, ignored, and silenced because of her gender. And yet, she is also a powerful figure - a prophetess who can see the future, who can speak truth to power. Jeffers is asking us to see the strength and resilience of women, even in the face of overwhelming oppression.
The Language
But perhaps the most striking aspect of this poem is the language itself. Jeffers was a master of the English language, and his skill is evident in every line of this poem. He uses vivid, evocative imagery to bring his story to life. His descriptions of Cassandra are particularly beautiful - she is a "wild-eyed girl", a "beauty like a tightened bow", a "golden falcon". He also uses rich metaphors throughout the poem, comparing Cassandra to a "nightingale", a "lone pine", and a "wind-battered garden".
But it's not just the imagery that's impressive - it's also the rhythm and rhyme of the poem. Jeffers uses a variety of poetic techniques to create a musical, almost hypnotic quality to the poem. There's the alliteration of "wild-eyed", the repetition of "the doom of Troy", the internal rhyme of "gleaming helmets". All of these elements combine to create a poem that is as beautiful to hear as it is to read.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cassandra by Robinson Jeffers is a stunning work of poetry that deserves to be read and reread. Jeffers' language is beautiful and evocative, his narrative is captivating, and his themes are timeless. This poem is a reminder of the power of prophecy, the horror of war, and the strength of women. It is a masterpiece that deserves to be celebrated and studied for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Cassandra: A Poem of Tragic Prophecy
Robinson Jeffers’ Cassandra is a haunting and powerful poem that explores the themes of prophecy, fate, and the human condition. Written in 1937, the poem is a retelling of the Greek myth of Cassandra, the Trojan princess who was cursed by Apollo to prophesy the future but never be believed. Jeffers’ version of the story is a meditation on the nature of prophecy and the tragic consequences of knowing the future.
The poem begins with a description of Cassandra’s beauty and her gift of prophecy. Jeffers writes, “She was beautiful, and she knew it, and she had the gift of prophecy, and she knew it.” This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes Cassandra’s dual nature as both a beautiful woman and a prophetess. The poem then goes on to describe how Apollo fell in love with Cassandra and offered her the gift of prophecy in exchange for her love. Cassandra refused him, and in his anger, Apollo cursed her so that no one would ever believe her prophecies.
The first stanza of the poem sets up the central conflict of the story: Cassandra’s knowledge of the future and her inability to convince others of its truth. Jeffers writes, “She saw the future, and she saw the past, / And she saw the present as a bird on the wing.” This line captures the essence of Cassandra’s gift of prophecy, as she is able to see all of time at once. However, her knowledge is useless because no one will believe her. Jeffers describes this paradox in the second stanza of the poem, writing, “She saw the future, and she saw the past, / And she saw the present as a bird on the wing, / But no one would listen, no one would believe, / And she was alone with her terrible gift.”
The poem then shifts to a description of the Trojan War and Cassandra’s role in it. Jeffers describes how Cassandra warned the Trojans of the danger posed by the Greeks, but they refused to listen to her. He writes, “She warned them of the Greeks, she warned them of the horse, / But they would not listen, they would not believe, / And the city fell, and the people died, / And Cassandra was left alone with her terrible gift.” This section of the poem is a powerful commentary on the nature of prophecy and the tragic consequences of ignoring it.
The final stanza of the poem is a meditation on the nature of fate and the human condition. Jeffers writes, “And so it is with all of us, / We see the future, and we see the past, / And we see the present as a bird on the wing, / But we cannot change what is to come.” This line captures the fatalistic tone of the poem, as it suggests that human beings are powerless to change their fate. Jeffers goes on to write, “We are all Cassandra, we are all cursed, / To know the future but never be believed.” This line is a powerful statement on the human condition, as it suggests that we are all trapped by our knowledge of the future and our inability to change it.
In conclusion, Robinson Jeffers’ Cassandra is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of prophecy, fate, and the human condition. The poem is a retelling of the Greek myth of Cassandra, the Trojan princess who was cursed by Apollo to prophesy the future but never be believed. Jeffers’ version of the story is a meditation on the nature of prophecy and the tragic consequences of knowing the future. The poem is a powerful commentary on the human condition, as it suggests that we are all trapped by our knowledge of the future and our inability to change it.
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