Jessica Yan Yim , Period 6, 12/20/23

Jessica Yan Yim

Period 6

12/20/23

Modern Mythology 2024

The book “Circe” by Madeline Miller, revolves around Circe, a powerful sorceress, on a journey encountering many themes of power, identity, and relationships between characters. Through Circe, and other characters, gender roles and power dynamics are shown. “Circe” can be analyzed through the feminist theory because the author rewrites the story from a feminist perspective, challenging the original perspective of the story and empowering the voices of women.

The story shows the power dynamics and gender roles associated with different characters. For example, “I heard the news from a naiad cousin: he had been taken to a great jagged peak in the Caucasus and chained to the rock.” (Chapter 3) The power dynamic is revealed between genders, showing male vulnerability. Prometheus suffers a brutal punishment, while the messenger, a female Naiad cousin is the messenger, playing an important role in the story. In addition to gender roles, the story states, “The bench would scrape, and he would stand. The men watched with bright eyes. They wanted the freeze, the flinch, the begging that would come. It was my favorite moment, seeing them frown and try to understand why I wasn’t afraid. In their bodies I could feel my herbs like strings waiting to be plucked. I savored their confusion, their dawning fear. Then I plucked them.” (Chapter 15) Circe uses her powers as vengeance and to take control, she refuted everyone that called her weak, judged her, and thought they could take advantage of her. Miller wanted to show the harsh reality of women being vulnerable, but show how Circe was able to reclaim her own power and take control.

It can also be seen that Circe’s status only went up because she gained powers, defeating the message of women empowerment. She was only able to acquire power by getting magical powers, so she didn’t do it on her own, she needed special help in getting that. Her use of powers can be argued that it is not a direct act of empowerment, but a manifestation of trying to gain control of a world controlled by gods. It reflects her own struggles and insecurities, which may come off as being weak. Her actions are an attempt to shape her own destiny.

So, looking at the story “Circe” through the feminist theory shows the challenges in power and gender roles that women face in the mythical world. Miller was able to use Circe to show her transformation in how she reclaimed her own power and destiny.