MADELINE MILLER Circe. Reviewed by Amelia Dudley
In Circe, Orange Prize-winner Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles, weaves more ancient Greek myths into a new, gritty and spellbinding tale.
Circe, lowly daughter of the sun god Helios, first uses witchcraft in pursuit of her doomed love for a mortal. For this, she is banished to the island of Aaia. Despite her loneliness, Circe embraces her exile as a chance to learn more about this arcane power, a power feared even by Zeus, the king of the gods:
I would not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the door stands open.
I stepped into those woods and my life began.
Circe’s power and independence make men and gods alike feel threatened, and eventually one of Olympus’s most feared gods becomes her mortal enemy. Her secluded island and faithful beasts won’t keep Circe safe forever.
When unexpected guests arrive seeking Circe’s protection, they threaten everything she has built on Aaia, but she finds she cannot refuse them. In the end, Circe needs to decide where she belongs: whether to retake her place among the gods she grew to despise or to remain part of the mortal world.
The author takes familiar mythical figures like Prometheus, Daedalus and Odysseus and gives them an extra layer of complexity. Circe herself is no exception. In this re-imagining, she is still the wicked witch of Aaia but with an added dimension. This Circe has a heart, an independent mind and a sharp tongue:
‘I suppose you might go and visit Prometheus,’ I said. ‘… bring him something of comfort.’
‘And why should I do that?’
‘For novelty’s sake, of course. The first good deed in your dissolute life. Aren’t you curious what it would feel like?’
Most importantly, all of the major characters are well-rounded, revealing either their depth or shallowness and pettiness, and there are some thought-provoking comments about what immortality and being worshipped might do to one’s perspective and empathy for others. I also enjoyed seeing the ‘wicked witch’ re-imagined as a woman with the odds stacked against her from the beginning.
As Circe narrates her life, we can relate to the very human motivations behind her actions. Her dry, sardonic comments, hinting at what lies in the future, add to the intrigue. The tragedy at the heart of this tale is one of self-fulfilling prophecy and is cleverly executed. The ending is nevertheless both touching and satisfying.
Miller’s writing style is quite poetic, often simple yet powerful. This makes even the saddest and darkest parts of Circe’s story beautiful:
I had not fooled myself with false hope … But I pressed his face into my mind, as seals are pressed in wax, so I could carry it with me.
From naivety to bitterness and finally wisdom, Circe’s journey is a gripping read. A thorough knowledge of ancient Greek mythology is certainly not a requirement for enjoying this book.
Madeline Miller Circe Thorndike Press 2018 PB 352pp $29.99
Amelia Dudley is currently completing a Master’s degree focussing on plant biology. She is the proud auntie of many nieces and nephews. In her spare time she reads, gardens, draws, paints and doesn’t get to do enough writing.
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