Angry women of the Trojan War

 

 ⭑⭑⭑  Bravo to Jennifer Saint for shining light on lesser-known Greek Myth characters. Here, we focus on women of the Trojan War: Elektra (our title character), her mother Clytemnestra and Trojan Cassandra.

There's a reason we don't know much about Elektra as her story arch is rather flat. Not much happens to her. Similar comments could be made for Clytemnestra but I found her revenge story and motivation a wee bit stronger, yet tedious as time passed. There's only so long you can hold on to a grievance again your husband whilst simultaneously marginalising everyone else, including your children. How can she hold such strong anger against Agamemnon for the death of one of their children and fail to care one jot for the two remaining, living children? I found that irksome even if that's how her story plays out.

I have much the same comments for Elektra. It's pretty pointless, if I am honest. Her sole focus on the father she hardly knows and the deep hate she holds for her mother just felt to drag on and on. I know, that's the whole point of the Trojan War - lots of waiting, strong personalities clashing, but it did feel overly much.

The one bright light was, quite surprising to me, Cassandra. I have read loads of Trojan War novels over the years and Cassandra is always painted as a bit crackers spouting off prophecy to all who will/won't listen. In Elektra she is fully fleshed out and a sympathetic character of note. I felt for her as I never have before.

The curse on the house Atreus played out well in Elektra. It's so easy to see the building blocks of destruction in this telling. This book is a great way to make Greek Mythology accessible to those who may not know the stories well, especially the Trojan War, which can be hard to stomach but from the safe distance in this novel it is a great primer.