The story of a witch from Greek Mythology that was tormented, heartbroken, disowned and misunderstood has easily become my second favorite book of all-time.
"Circe" is Madeline Miller's second book; the first being "The Song of Achilles," about the warrior and his love, Patroclus. Her second book isn't about a warrior of sorts that becomes her own hero.
Circe is daughter of Helios (Titan god of the sun) and Perse, one of a thousand nymphs. The book starts with Circe's birth and how her parents believed her to be 'normal,' or not possessing of any powers. She herself believes she is normal and unlike a god or goddess. Her voice is said to be as sharp as a falcon, hence her name, which means "bird."
Circe has many familar names as relatives, most notably Prometheus, her uncle. Her first interaction with him is, to me, what leads to her discovering she is FAR from ordinary and is, herself, the definition of the term 'goddess.'
The story follows Circe as she finds herself in exile on the island, Aiaia (I-a-uh). She spends her days perfecting her newfound powers as a witch, a sorceress. She finds the plants that transform, the weeds and roots that heal and more. Circe enjoys her freedom on Aiaia and befriends the lions, pigs, birds and other animals, even adopting a lion as her 'favorite' among them who sleeps curled up at her feet at night.
During Circe's exile, she befriends Hermes, the Olympian god of trade, wealth, luck, fertility, animal husbandry, sleep, language, thieves and travel. He comes and goes from Aiaia as he pleases, even befriending and falling in love (if it could be called that) with Circe.
However, Circe is unable to enjoy her freedom for long and a list of well-known characters, gods and mortals alike, visit her island and become acquainted with the Witch of Aiaia. We meet Daedalus when Icarus is just a little boy, years before he flies too close to the sun. We meet the Minotaur upon it's birth. Odysseus makes an appearance and spends years with Circe on her island, telling her stories and regailing her with adventures of his home, Ithaca, as well as abroad. We also learn a part of Circe's story that interweaves with Odysseus on a more personal level that Odysseus himself was unaware of -- she becomes a mother.
Anyone who is a mother will understand Circe's anxiety over protecting little Telegonus. She receives a heart-wrenching prophesy of Athena, the Goddess of War and female counterpart of Ares. Athena is also Zeus' favorite offspring who came into existence by springing forth from Zeus' head, fully clothed in armor.
Athena, one of the most ruthless goddesses, wants Telegonus. She hasn't met Circe though, who will fight Zeus himself before her son is taken away from her. She enchants her island to protect it from Athena, who warns her, "you cannot watch him all the time. I will take him in the end."
Circe replies with, "You do not know what I can do." Which is as surprising to Circe, who is still unsure of exactly how much power she yields, as it is to the reader. In the end, we learn that Circe was always powerful, she just needed to find it in her.
Circe's story is one that I will never forget. I knew of Greek mythology and the gods and goddesses like Athena, Zeus, Hermes, Aphrodite, and more. But I had never heard the story of the Witch of Aiaia and how she made a happy ending from her broken start. It is worth the read and it will keep you up all night. Circe's voice will haunt you day after day. She will make you realize you have been your own hero all along.
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