Theater Musings
Cassandra, in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon
A character study for directors and
actors
by
212 481-8220
©
2016
Cassandra is a
minor, but vital character in Aeschylus’ drama, Agamemnon. She informs the audience
of the forthcoming death of Agamemnon, as well as herself, precipitating the
action to come. Presumably the audience knows what’s coming, since it is a
tragedy. The challenge to the director is to make the prophecy of imminent
death theatrically dramatic to an audience visually saturated by the incredibly
sophisticated imagery of film and tv.
In order to
construct the emotional involvement of the audience in a scene that is
critically important, Cassandra must compel a range of feelings. This can be
facilitated by the chorus, who can express qualities of scorn, derision,
mockery, pity, for the possessed woman. The actor, by creating tension before,
during and after prophecy, completes the stage requirements for furthering the
action.
The source of developing
the depth of character necessary for Cassandra to evoke tragic awareness is in
the pre-history of the Iliad and the myth of the House of Atreus. The director
and actor should presuppose that the audience may be familiar with the tale of
Troy, and possibly even the play itself. They should assume the audience will
not know the myth of Apollo and Cassandra, which could be the key to initiating
the foundation of constructing the character. Cassandra, a young royal princess
(12-14?) of the house of Priam of Troy, is desired by the god Apollo. She
agrees to have sex with him, if he’ll give her the gift of Prophecy. He does.
Then she mocks him and refuses to keep her part of the bargain. He can’t take
back his gift, so he curses her with not being believed.
This is where the
actor’s work begins. This once privileged personage is now an embarrassment, a
demented creature, possessed of madness, yet still a beloved member of the
royal house. All these qualities must be examined and included in the character.
The curse began before the Trojan War, which lasted for ten years, followed by
the capture and destruction of the city. Then Cassandra was awarded as a slave
to Agamemnon and presumably was his bedmate during their return to Argos. By
building the character’s emotional life for at least ten years before she comes
on stage, the actor may arrive with a three dimensional persona that will stir
the audience’s emotion.
The exploration of
pre-character should not be a day to day diary, or a chronicle. There should be
some invented salient facts or experiences that will lead to the tormented
emotional state of a character alienated from the world around her. It is vital
to understand that Cassandra has been disbelieved many times. She has probably
been treated as a privileged, demented member of the royal household, yet was
considered harmless.
Cassandra surely
prophesized the fall of Troy, which largely had to have been laughed at. The
inner torment at being mocked and pitied would be a constant. It is useful to
be aware that prophecy is a ‘divine’ gift, not an act of reason, therefore, the
prophet will be possessed/transformed, while in a state of inspiration.
A physical
transformation when in the state of prophecy must be carefully created so as
not to be contrived, grotesque, silly, etc. Any implausible quality that might
make the character unbelievable to the audience must be eliminated. The
complication for the director is how to get the chorus, whatever format to use
them is selected, to sustain disbelief in the prophecy, despite the fact that
the audience knows it’s true. Since the curse of disbelief is on Cassandra, she
must be convincing, or the scene will be contrived and the audience involvement
with the play will deflate.
Of course very few
actors will have the opportunity to play Cassandra, at least in a serious
theater setting. Yet the same general outline of character development can be
applicable to other roles. Create who you are, then you will be, of course
pre-supposing you have the talent and skills to be.
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