Circe is a nymph, a Lesser Goddess. She is the daughter of Helios, but the other gods do not believe she is powerful. They think she is weird because she has a human’s voice, and she also lacks the eyes of the gods. She is called Pharmika or witch because she can transform people into whatever she believes their true form to be. She transforms Glaucos into a god so they could be lovers but as soon as he is transformed, he ignores her and chases after another nymph named Scylla. Circe is heartbroken and decides to reveal her inner ugliness by transforming her into a hideous beast with six heads. Scylla retreats to the ocean where she lives in a cave by a straight with a powerful whirlpool called Charybdis. Circe is horrified when Hermes tells her that she sits in her trap eating the sailors. The other gods do not understand her powers because she is the only one capable of doing this. They banished her to an Island called Aiaia where she practices and becomes more confident in her abilities. In the beginning of the book Circe states that although she is very old compared to a human’s life, she was not truly living. Later when she is on Aiaia she states, “I stepped into those woods and my life began.” I think its interesting to see her grow, as she learns of the true power she possesses, from a naive “young” girl to a powerful enchantress. I am finding this book fascinating. It’s a lot of fun to read, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Read More about Circe in Mythology Here Also Read about the Author Madeline Miller
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
John Maler Collier (1850–1934), "Clytemnestra," 1882
Cassandra by Evelyn De Morgan (1898, London); Cassandra in front of the burning city of Troy |