Circe’s Song: Path to Self-Awareness and Self-Empowerment in Madeline Miller’s “Circe”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52340/idw.2025.52Keywords:
Circe, Mythological reimagining, Female agency, Self-awareness, Self-empowermentAbstract
Madeline Miller’s Circe is a captivating reimagining of the ancient mythological figure who is best known from Homer’s Odyssey. Unlike the traditional depictions of Circe as an enchantress who tempts and manipulates men, Miller’s novel converts her from a minor sorceress to a powerful symbol of self-awareness and empowerment. In the novel, Circe is illustrated as a multifaceted protagonist on her transforming path of self-awareness and empowerment. The present study looks at how Miller depicts Circe's journey to self-discovery, emphasizing the internal and external struggles that define her character. Miller's use of Circe as a symbol of metamorphosis provides a captivating narrative, making the novel an essential contribution to modern readings of classic heroines. The current paper dives into Circe's journey of self-awareness and discovery, investigating how she goes through a transformation from a marginalized nymph to an autonomous and self-possessed sorceress representing female empowerment and resilience. It contributes to current concerns about feminist mythmaking and the changing role of female characters in literature.
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