Circe by Madeline Miller is a combination of Greek mythology and fantasy. The author retells the story of Circe the Witch and lends a voice to a complex and lesser-known character who is only briefly mentioned in the Odyssey.
Circe is the daughter of Helios, the Sun God and the nymph, Perse. She is regarded as dull, inheriting neither the radiance of her father nor the allure of her mother. One day, when she accidentally discovers her powers of witchcraft and uses them to transform people into creatures, panic breaks out in the grand halls of Helios. The Olympians and the Titans exile her to an island where they hope her powers are contained.
Abandoned and broken, Circle rebuilds her life and hones her witchcraft. In this process, she rediscovers and reinvents herself, becoming a mistress of spells and magical concoctions. She is fascinated by mortals, and unlike the other Gods, does not like to inflict misery on them, just to be revered. Sailors on ships stopping at her island try to take advantage of a lone woman’s hospitality. She turns them into swine with her magic.
The book touches upon many feministic themes – how a powerful woman is feared, how she is ostracized and branded a witch for daring to be different, and finally how she stands up for herself and comes into her own. Becoming a mother gives Circe strength to stand up to a War Goddess, proving she will go to any length to protect what she cherishes. Circe’s difficult relationship with her parents is in contrast to her nurturing relationship with her son, Telegonus. In her words, as a Goddess, she has lived for centuries, yet the years with her child seem the longest.
The narrative is gripping and includes many elements of Greek mythology – like the Minotaur and the labyrinth of Crete, the story of Icarus, Scylla and Charybdis, Medea and Jason, and many others. The ending was a tad too tame and underwhelming/icky, but I understand that the author stuck to the source – lore and legends, and the ethos of a different age. I also did feel that the book dragged a little towards the end.
This is a coming-of-age story that blends courage, love, loss, longing, and redemption. If you are a mythology buff and love reading retellings with a strong feminine voice, this one is for you.
