Cassandra (short story)

Cassandra is a short story by author Ursula K. Le Guin, published in 2006 as part of the collection Gifts. It is a science fiction retelling of the Greek myth of Cassandra, who was cursed by Apollo to have prophetic visions that no one would believe.

The story shifts the setting from ancient Troy to a dystopian future city called Urino, where Cassandra is born a "speaker," meaning she has a genetic predisposition to perceive and vocalize the future. In Urino, speakers are valued for their predictive abilities, which are used to control and manipulate the population. Cassandra's mother is a powerful and ambitious speaker who exploits Cassandra's gift for personal gain.

As Cassandra grows, she witnesses increasingly horrifying visions of the city's impending collapse and the suffering of its inhabitants. Unlike her mythological counterpart, she is initially believed because of her status as a speaker. However, her visions contradict the utopian narratives propagated by the ruling elite, and she becomes a threat to their control.

The story explores themes of truth, power, manipulation, the consequences of disbelief, and the burden of knowledge. Cassandra's struggle to communicate her visions and the systematic silencing she endures highlight the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of critical thinking. The story also examines the ethical implications of prophecy and the responsibility that comes with possessing such a gift. Le Guin uses the science fiction setting to reimagine the ancient myth, offering a commentary on contemporary social and political issues.