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Questions

What did you, the reader, take away from this book? Did you learn anything new while reading it or gain a new perspective of the event?

My main takeaway was that just because you are a woman does not mean you cannot stand up for yourself. Circe learned to become strong and confront those that hurt her. I definitely gained a new perspective from a woman who was once weak and her story to becoming a independent woman.

If you were to give this book a score, from 1-5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best), what score would you give it and why?

I would rate this book 5 stars. It was very interesting and I really enjoyed Circe's story and how she had overcome hardships. I loved her character development!

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Quotes

“It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment's carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.” ― Circe

The author feels she is far from weak and to assume all women are delicate would be wrong. Circe became the opposite of how men say women are.

“A golden cage is still a cage.” ― Circe

The author felt that although Circe's "cage" had been beautiful, it was still a cage and nothing would change that.

“Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep.” ― Circe

The author feels that male poets view women as only worthwhile when weak and emotional.

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Theme

A very major theme in 'Circe' is feminism and trying to live in a world controlled by men. Throughout her life Circe becomes aware that the men in her life had been using her for their own gain and is able to take control back. She becomes feared by the men who once treated her poorly.

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Character Development

Circe-

Circe started as a timid girl, unable to defend herself or speak her mind. However by the end of the book she became independent and had the strength and confidence to stand up for herself. This was all due to her growth in power and her feeling that she was no longer inferior.

Glaucos-

When Glaucos first met Circe he was kind and seemed to respect Circe. Throughout their time together they were close and passionate. But after becoming a god he became stuck up and looked down on Circe. He no longer had an interest in Circe.

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Summary

From the very beginning of Circe’s story we learn that she is shunned and mocked by her family and treated like an outsider due to her unique looks. Out of her three siblings, Aeetes, had been the only one to treat her like family. So when he left to run his own kingdom Circe was left alone and heartbroken, until she met the mortal man, Glaucos. He was her first love and she had transformed him into a god. Circe believed that after this they would live happily together, however, Glaucos falls in love with the nymph girl, Scylla. Once again heartbroken Circe grows jealous of Scylla and transforms her into a six headed monster but even after that Glaucos still ignores Circe. After turning the nymph into a monster, Circe was exiled from her home to a land called Aeaea. She became a witch and feared by many, Zeus being one of them, afraid she may surpass him in power.

While in Aeaea Circe becomes much more skilled in her witchcraft. Because of this her sister had her summoned to Crete to deliver her child. Circe reluctantly agrees and boards the boat sent to pick her up. On the way to Crete, Circe and the crew run into Scylla the monster. Circe subdues Scylla and saves everyone on the boat and they land in Crete. Circe helps Pasiphae deliver her child and learns that this child is a monster hybrid of sorts and locks it away. Returning home Circe is lonely once again until a sailor Odysseus lands on her island. He had seemed to be smarter and wittier than most other men and Circe took a liking to him. They become lovers and Circe has a child with him. Odysseus leaves before this child is born leaving Circe to give birth alone. When Circe’s son, Telegonus, is born she becomes overprotective, not allowing him to leave the island. When Telegonus leaves the island in search of his father, Circe becomes worried. Telegonus finally returns to the island with Penelope and Telemachus after accidentally killing his father. 

Afterwards Telegonus leaves Aeaea to explore the world and Circe had also wanted to leave. She confronts her father Helios and is granted permission to leave her island. Circe leaves the island to Penelope and leaves with Telemachus. During her journey Circe and Telemachus become lovers, traveling the world together happily.

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Overview

Circe originally appeared in Homer’s Odyssey, written 725 BC, and she was described as a beautiful goddess- enchantress. In The Odyssey, Circe, was a “minor roadblock” to Odyssey while in Madeline Miller’s book we hear her entire story. Although the interpretations on Circe’s story had changed she was always seen as a powerful witch.

In the book ‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller, we learn about her upbringing as a goddess in her father’s palace. ‘Circe’ takes place in ancient Greece over thousands of years. The story of a daughter of the Sun God, Helios, and water nymph, Perse. Circe has three siblings, Aeetes, Pasiphae, and Perse and we come to understand her relationship with each of her family members. 

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Circe

Madeline Miller

A presentation