The Theme Of Circe

A four-letter word that brings even the highest of divinity to their knees. The novel Circe by Madeline Miller is one with many themes, symbolism, and overall a book that will leave you wanting to know more. Although there are many, there is one particular theme distinct from all the rest and is seen throughout the story. The major theme in Circe is how love is the ultimate motive, and Miller develops this theme through the naive longing to be loved, the willingness and hard work, as well as how love has the power to transform. The naive longing to be loved and fill an empty hole leads to great desperation. Circe was not one taken lovingly nor joyfully by her family, she was the black sheep, always looked down upon and as less than, far

A mother’s love is unconditional with no limit to how far and what they’ll endure for their child. The willingness of hard work of that mother is beyond description. When in labor with her son, Teleganous, Circe prayed to the goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia, with no response, another must’ve been keeping her from her help. In response to such realization, Circe responded “Someone dared to try to harm my son. It gave me the strength I needed…The layers of flesh parted, and at I saw him…” (Miller, 200). CIrce’s love for her son gave her the undoubted strength to perform a self-inflicted c-section. The thought of him being harmed was one she feared, for how could someone wish wrong on the utmost innocent of whom she loved. Her love for her son though seen through the continued rest of the book was then shown as leviathan when she when to seek Trigon's tail. The exchange for Trigon’s tail, which would provide protection for her son, was “Eternal pain in exchange for a few more mortal years for [her] son”, the pain was nothing to Circe she explains, “If I did this thing. Teleganous would live. That was all that mattered.” (Miller, 233). Clearly, there was no price to be put on the life of her son, including eternal pain. She would’ve gone through such extremes for her son’s safety, all with the power of such indestructible strength, the strength of

Glacouse, debatingly one of Circe’s first love, was a mortal, this took away her fantasies of having him as a husband. She believed certain flowers would turn him she says, “Change,” I whispered. “He mustang be a god. Change.”...Then he leaped to his feet, towering like a storm surge, the sea god, he had always been.” (Miller, 45). Glacouse was a changed man, a god however according to her father, “If the world contained the power of allege, do you think it would fall such as you to discover it.” (Miller, 55). It was not the flowers that held the power it was Circe. A witch, that who she had been all along. The largest of what they have kept from her and she had finally known the truth. It is Circe’s witchery that she grows most throughout the novel, the right spells, the right potions, the right herbs, when and where is best. Her journey of witchery is undeniably essential to her character. It is with the same witchcraft she transformed Scylla into