In the book ‘Circe’ by author Madeline Miller, Circe learns, through her experience of motherhood, the instant love and maternal bond between mother and child, as well as a mother’s impulse to sacrifice her own life to protect her offspring. Like many mothers, Circe feels overwhelmed by a baby’s constant physical and emotional needs. Although she feels she is prepared for motherhood, she must navigate coping with her own plethora of emotions. Through motherhood, Miller shows how Circe demonstrates mortal emotions of motherhood – love, compassion, and protection.
“I was giddy feeling his first kicks and I spoke to him every moment, as I crushed my herbs, as I cut clothes for his body, wove his cradle out of rushes. I imagined him walking beside me, the child and boy and man that he would be…The perfect solitude that would never be loneliness again” (p.258). Circe learns that even after her life of isolation from her family and mistreatment by male gods, betrayal by mortals, and abuse by sexual predators, she can put these things in the past while still managing not to paint all individuals with the same broad brush. Circe did not have a positive mother figure in her life, so she was out to prove herself as a loving and protective mom to Telegonus and provide him with a wonderful life.
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“I did not go easy to motherhood. I faced it as soldiers face their enemies, girded and braced, sword up against the coming blows” (p.260). Even though Circe had spent a year living with Odysseus on the island, observing and attempting to understand mortal life and completing mortal chores such as cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and taking care of Odysseus, ultimately none of this training prepared Circe for motherhood. Circe learns to bond with Telegonus and experiments different ways to soothe him utilizing emotions she discovered caring for others. Circe grew into her role as a loving, compassionate, protective mother.
“When he finally slept, when he nursed at my breast, when he smiled at a flight of birds scattering from a tree. I would look at him and feel a love so sharp it seemed my flesh lay open. I made a list of all the things I would do for him. Scald off my skin. Tear out my eyes. Walk my feet to bones, if only he would be happy and well” (p.261). Circe is learning how to adjust to becoming a new mother as she experiences genuine conflicting feelings. She gains new knowledge as a mother, and this gives her a whole new perspective of mortals’ emotions as Circe observed Daedalus’ love for his son Icarus and Odysseus’ love for his son Telemachus. Circe has learned emotions/parenting from mortals, such as unconditional love for her child and tips to soothe Telegonus. Circe will do anything to keep Telegonus happy healthy.
Summing up, in her book ‘Circe’, Madeline Miller portrayed the changes in Circe's personality through her experience of motherhood, as well as her ability to love, empathize, and protect her child.
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