Embracing Our Personal Power

Issue 5: Turning Adversity Into Opportunity with Madeline Miller's "Circe"

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Several retellings are currently reshaping the narrative of these once seemingly discarded characters. Which is fantastic, because I love a good origin story. The writing in this particular book is exquisitely executed, so I hope that you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. The retelling I’m referring to is titled “Circe” by Madeline Miller.

Although the more traditional view of the character would be to describe her as an evil witch who turns men into pigs, reading this book written from the female gaze makes this story especially compelling. The story starts to add up the missing pieces that perhaps would have been written off as unimportant, when in actuality they provide context for the circumstances that ensue. Especially the thought process of the protagonist as we’re moving through the circumstances she endures, start to incite empathy in the reader.

After having read the book, it seemed to me that there was absolutely nothing evil…