Character Analysis
Cass is Noah and Tilly's 12-year-old sister who is gifted (or cursed, depending on how you see it) with prophecy. Her name may be an allusion to mythology's Cassandra, a woman who could see the future but was never believed. Poor Cass is nearly physically consumed by the stress of her visions:
She huddled in Mama's old threadbare shawl. Her face was wet with tears, gray as the sundown river. She was only twelve and looked ten. She'd just about given up on school, the winter took so much out of her. And thin? Not much more than breath and britches. The wind went straight through her, though we were both still sewed into our winter underwear. (2.10)
Poor kid, right? Cass functions in the novel to warn Tilly of what's coming for Noah with the advent of the war. Because Tilly refuses to listen to Cass' vague, if dire, prophecies, however, this creates suspense for the reader. Is Cass right? Is Tilly? Guess we'll just have to keep reading.
Cass is the member of the Pruitt family to whom Calinda becomes closest, likely because they are both soothsayers. In Calinda's company, Cass revives somewhat, just as Tilly does in the company of Delphine. Check it out:
Mama didn't hold with cards in the house. But she said nothing because Cass was transfixed, watching each card Calinda snapped down. Whether they were playing those cards or reading them, I couldn't tell. But much passed between them, and Mama was relieved to see Cass so bright-eyed. (5.70)
While the Pruitts have always been afraid of Cass going mad, Delphine and Calinda seem to understand her visions as a gift. And what's more, Calinda is able to help her harness their power. Phew.