Motherhood and Metaphors - Book Review for "Circe" by Madeline Miller

In Circe, Madeline Miller presents a protagonist who begins her journey in isolation—alienated from her divine family and treated as inferior to her powerful and beautiful siblings. As the daughter of Helios, the Sun God, Circe’s lack of radiance and beauty makes her an easy target for dismissal. Her father, who is more interested in his other children, barely acknowledges her existence, leaving her to navigate a life of solitude at his court. This early position of powerlessness shapes her identity, fueling a quiet yet intense yearning for independence.

It’s through this alienation that Circe begins her inner transformation. Her lack of agency in her family drives her to develop her own sense of self. While her family sees her as insignificant, Circe harbors the potential for something greater: the ability to shape her own fate, free from the constraints of those who have always overlooked her. This feeling of being an outsider, different and misunderstood, becomes a catalyst for her eventual evolution.

Her Magical Powers as Metaphors for Growth

Circe's magical powers, though initially unrefined and clumsy, become a powerful metaphor for her personal growth. It demonstrates how consistency and learning from one's mistakes is an undeniable factor in seeing true growth. At first, her magic is a tool for defense and vengeance, something she uses to assert herself in a world that has long ignored or scorned her. The famous moment when she transforms men into pigs is an early demonstration of her power, but also a reflection of her frustration and desire for control. In these early stages, her magic is often a reaction—a means of survival rather than creation. But as Circe matures and begins to understand her own worth, her magic evolves.

Over time, Circe learns to wield her powers not out of spite, but out of a deeper sense of agency and self-assurance. The shift from using magic for retaliation to using it for creation (such as with her son, Telegonus) represents her emotional growth. Those chapters in particular depict how much she had to grow to become a mother and painted the scene of motherhood realistically.

She no longer sees herself as powerless, but as someone capable of bringing life and change into the world. Her magical journey becomes a reflection of her inner journey—from being a misunderstood outcast to becoming a confident, independent figure who shapes her own reality.

Through Circe's evolving relationship with her powers, we witness how her emotional maturation is mirrored in her increasing mastery over the forces of magic. As she learns to accept herself, she learns to create, heal, and transform—not just others, but herself.

A book review for "Circe" by Madeline Miller