ASSIGNMENT: Comparing Odyssey excerpts to Circe Parallels
Dr. Erica Motron-Starner
October 31, 2020
When we examine the difference between Miller’s Circe and Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey, the different protagonist Odysseus and Circe provides a different perspective about the same circumstance. The Odyssey focuses on Odysseus’ heroic journey while he encounters Circe, so the author describes Circe as a potential helper and short time lover. However, the protagonist of Miller’s Circe is Circe, and her meeting with Odysseus is a concise part of Circe’s life. It is true that Circe also thinks of Odysseus as a short time lover and she can help him. However, Miller’s Circe spends many paragraphs to describe why Circe falls in love with Odysseus. Also, Miller’s Circe still has her position as a ‘lady Circe’ while The Odyssey’s Circe seems to give her house’s lord position to Odysseus. What makes those perspectives different is the protagonist’s gender and the author’s conception of gender.
Indeed, when The Odyssey was written, sexism was dominant in the era of the story’s background. No matter Circe is the goddess of Aiaia and one of the most powerful witches in Greek mythology, Circe is still female which easily considers weak so that a mortal man’s sword can threaten her.
For example, in The Odyssey, the author describes the scene when Odysseus defeats Circe’s witchcraft as; “She screamed and ducked beneath the sword, and grasped my knees, and wailing asked me” (Wilson 325). However, in Miller’s Circe, Miller added that Circe mentions that “You should understand your men would have robbed me blind” as a witch of Aiaia. Since her claim is reasonable as a lady of the house, Odysseus apologizes to her (Miller 172). This apology does not exist in The Odyssey, although Odysseus’s behavior is the same as his wife’s suitors.
Therefore, it seems like Miller put more effort into making reasons why Circe loves Odysseus. The Odyssey is the epic poem of the hero’s story; all women have to love or support Odysseus. If women do not love Odysseys, she is the villain and considered an evil witch. However, Miller’s Circe is a novel of Circe’s story, who is a goddess and daughter of the sun like Odysseus said (Miller 171). Circe can refuse Odysseus’ request to stay on the island because she is the main character and heroine of the story. However, Circe helps Odysseus by allowing him to stay in Aiaia and advise Odysseus on “how to speak with the prophet Teiresias in the house of death”, because Odysseus showed his respect for Circe, and he is loveable to Circe (Miller 193).
All in all, male writers tend to give no reason for women who love and support heroes. However, female writers tend to give many reasons why heroine love men. The Odysseey’s Circe loves and supports Odysseus, although he threatens her and shows little respect. On the other hand, Miller’s Circe loves and supports Odysseus for the right reasons because Circe is an independent character, not just a tool for the hero’s journey.
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