“Brides, nymphs were called, but that is not really how the world saw us. We were an endless feast laid out upon a table, beautiful and renewing. And so very bad at getting away.”

― Madeline Miller, Circe

Madeline Miller’s Circe offers a profound reimagining of Homer’s character, bringing Circe into sharper, more complex relief. In Miller’s portrayal, Circe is not simply a sorceress or enchantress encountered by Odysseus; she is a fully realized character grappling with themes of power, autonomy, and identity, inviting readers to connect with her as a multidimensional figure. Through Circe’s first-person perspective, Miller gives readers direct access to her thoughts, fears, and resilience, casting her as a symbol of resistance against the restrictive roles and narratives often imposed on women.

Miller’s Circe is keenly aware of how society diminishes women’s voices, a theme she encapsulates in the line, “Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep.” Here, Miller allows Circe to critique the very tradition from which she originates, giving her a voice to challenge the literary and cultural norms that reduce women to objects or punish them for their independence. For readers, this statement reframes Circe from a mere obstacle in Odysseus’s journey to an empowered figure, a woman who stands against the constraints of myth and patriarchy.

Miller also deepens Circe’s character by highlighting her rejection of the stereotypical “delicate” nature assigned to women. When Circe reflects, “It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures...If I had ever believed it, I no longer did,” Miller dismantles the trope of the fragile woman, presenting Circe instead as resilient and unbreakable. This portrayal allows readers to see her transformation not only in magical terms but as a journey toward self-discovery and strength, making her an emblem of endurance and defiance.

Circe’s insight into power dynamics further enhances her relatability for modern readers. She observes, “They do not care if you are good. They barely care if you are wicked. The only thing that makes them listen is power.” This statement speaks to Circe’s realization that the world, especially as seen through the lens of the gods, values strength and authority above all else. Readers are invited to empathize with her, understanding that her magic and power are not mere tools of seduction or manipulation but her means of survival and self-definition.

Through this reinterpretation, Miller gives readers a Circe who transcends her mythological origins. Instead of being defined solely by her interactions with men like Odysseus, she is a woman on a journey of personal liberation, one who learns “timidity creates nothing” and embraces her own strength, even when it means defying gods and societal expectations. By presenting Circe’s journey in this light, Miller encourages readers to view her as a character who, despite adversity, grows into her power and claims her identity on her own terms.

In Circe, Miller doesn’t require readers to know the original myths but rather reimagines the story in a way that is accessible and resonant for a contemporary audience. By placing readers in Circe’s perspective, Miller allows them to experience her struggles, aspirations, and transformations, ultimately fostering a sense of kinship with a figure who defies limitations imposed by both gods and men. This portrayal of Circe as a symbol of resilience and self-determination invites readers to see her as a timeless figure, one who speaks to universal themes of autonomy, strength, and the search for one’s place in the world.

“It is funny,” she said, “that even after all this time, you still believe you should be rewarded, just because you have been obedient. I thought you would have learned that lesson in our father’s halls. None shrank and simpered as you did, and yet great Helios stepped on you all the faster, because you were already crouched at his feet.”

― Madeline Miller, Circe