THE IMAGE OF CASSANDRA IN GERMAN LITERATURE OF THE 20TH CENTURY (G.E. NOSSACK, K. WOLF)

Abstract

The article examines the peculiarities of representing the image of Cassandra in the works of German writers of the 20th century, G.E. Nossack and K. Wolf. Notably, in their creative practice this image is actualized within the context of political and economic cataclysms.In G.E. Nossack’s short story «Cassandra» the narrative line of Agamemnon and Cassandra mirrors that found in the works of ancient tragedians. The writer projects the tragedy of the fallen Agamemnon and his captive Cassandra onto life in post-war Europe.By uniquely reinterpreting the ancient myth, the author constructs his own philosophical concept of life.In K. Wolf’s novella «Cassandra», the image of the ancient prophetess acquires symbolic traits of a woman searching for herself in a society where she feels both uncomfortable and unsafe. The most striking manifestation of tragedy is the scene in which Achilles kills Troilus; here, not only is the tragic fate of the seer – whom no one believed – revealed, but the author also issues a caution to humanity regarding the threat of nuclear war. K. Wolf’s narrative of Cassandra’s life is a tale of how one can destroy oneself as an individual, losing one’s own identity. The writer interprets the plot of the ancient myth quite freely, offering the reader her own distinctive reconstruction.Understanding her work does not require prior knowledge of the original source; the novella can be regarded as a fully complete, self- contained story that does not demand additional background or interpretation.G.E. Nossack’s short story appeals not only to the recipient’s historical experience but also to their knowledge of mythology, forming the basis of an intertextual play with the reader. The story is characterized by deep psychological insight; the author strives to “read” signs of reality within the mythological plot, thereby actualizing it. The work possesses a distinctly subjective-lyrical form, and its spatial-temporal organization is quite complex. It is precisely through the universality of the myth of Cassandra that parallels are drawn between the Trojan War and World War II. A certain analogy can be observed between the fall of Ilion and Berlin.