Circe by Madeline Miller

Most readers, I think, have some sort of knowledge or awareness of classical stories, whether that means Shakespeare, Bronte, or even the Bible. I’ve always been curious about these but often felt like they were out of my league of understanding in English literature. However, I have loved the original Percy Jackson series and of stories about beasts, immortals and the ancient times, so I decided to give Circe a go. This novel tells a Greek mythology tale of Circe, a Greek goddess, daughter of the sun Titan Helios who have been exiled forever by Zeus to the island of Aiaia for having transformative powers.

As an outcast in her own family since youth, Circe spent much of the years refining her witchcraft and sorcery powers, including turning men into animals, making spells and concoctions. She also was given the duty of mistress as gods and titans send nymphs alike for punishment on her island, but never eternally as was her own sentence. Along the journey, she began with transforming her lover from mortal to God, then his lover to a monster, to helping birth the Minotaur and falling with Odysseus the warrior. Mocked by Hermes, Apollo, Athena and her siblings, she found solitude in her work and later, her son, whom Odysseus did not know about.

Telegonus’ mission to find his father kills Odysseus and Penelope and Telemachus follow him back to Circe’s island. The four make an unlikely adopted family and Telegonus follows Athena’s gift to rule a kingdom, while Circe and Telemachus set off to kill the sea monster Scylla that started this all. In the end, Circe drinks a potion that is supposed to bring about her true self and end the centuries of burden and abuse, from begging Helios to end the exile so she can travel and end the monstrous creation to being played by her sister and the Gods as a chess piece. Circe sees a life with Telemachus and growing old together, but that is all the book gives.

In today’s lens, I believe Circe brings the perspective of a coming of age tale in which being different should not mean we should fear it and abuse it. If Circe’s talents were accepted, the story might be overly cheerful, but as a feminist, it is not enough to say she is strong despite being harassed and used by others. We need to stop those harmful actions in the first place. No matter if it's God, animal, people, or some other being, abilities are wanted and feared. To be open and embrace every uniqueness is terribly difficult – but if it is not done, then this mythology will play as reality eternally.

Cheers,

Kelly

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