Cassandra’s story comes from Greek mythology, she was the daughter of King Priam of Troy and Queen Hecuba. Gifted with the power of foresight by Apollo, she was later cursed so that no one would believe her warnings. She foresaw the fall of Troy, including the danger of the Trojan Horse, but her desperate pleas were dismissed as madness.
In Sandys’ Cassandra, this sense of terrifying foresight is noticeable. The swirling motion of her hair and scarf adds urgency, as if she’s battling forces beyond her control. Shes fighting to be heard but also carrying the weight of knowing her city and family is doomed, yet she's powerless to stop it.