69 pages 2-hour read

Madeline Miller

Circe

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

A nymph and daughter of a Titan, she possesses golden eyes and a human-sounding voice. Isolated from her cruel divine family, she displays an unusual empathy for mortals and refuses to delight in their suffering. She eventually discovers her affinity for witchcraft, learning to transform the physical world through the magical properties of herbs.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Helios

Daughter of Perse

Sister of Pasiphaë

Sister of Perses

Sister of Aeëtes

Niece of Prometheus

Romantic interest of Glaucos

Rival of Scylla

Companion of Daedalus

Partner of Odysseus

Mother of Telegonus

The god of the sun and the strongest Titan alive. He is austere and commanding. He tolerates no disrespect from his court, valuing his children based entirely on their political usefulness or prestige.

Key Relationships

Husband of Perse

Father of Circe

Father of Pasiphaë

Father of Aeëtes

Father of Perses

The beautiful sister of Circe who becomes the queen of Crete. She practices witchcraft focused on poisons. She constantly seeks to elevate her own status among the gods, using her magic to exert control over her royal household.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Helios

Daughter of Perse

Sister of Circe

Wife of Minos

Employer of Daedalus

Mother of Ariadne

A clever god who grows up inseparable from Circe. He displays wisdom from a young age but quickly abandons his sister when offered a kingdom in Colchis. He discovers the limits of witchcraft and pushes them to achieve tremendous magical power.

Key Relationships

Brother of Circe

Son of Helios

Son of Perse

Father of Medea

A graying warrior prince returning from the Trojan War. He is charming and highly intelligent, carrying the heavy mental toll of combat. He stays on Aiaia for an extended time, sharing stories of his monstrous trials and complex leadership decisions.

Key Relationships

Companion of Circe

Husband of Penelope

Father of Telemachus

Father of Telegonus

Favored mortal of Athena

Supporting Characters

A genius mortal inventor serving the royal court in Crete. He builds incredible wonders, including an intricate loom. He remains trapped in the service of Pasiphaë and Minos due to his love for his child.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Pasiphaë

Companion of Circe

Father of Icarus

The demigod son of Circe and Odysseus. He grows up entirely isolated on Aiaia, shielded from harm by his mother's protective magic. He possesses a natural charisma and naive optimism about the outside world.

Key Relationships

Son of Circe

Son of Odysseus

Half-brother of Telemachus

Target of Athena

The mortal son of Odysseus and Penelope. Unlike his father, he does not search for hidden meanings or carry personal agendas. He is straightforward, skilled in practical trades, and rejects traditional paths of heroic glory.

Key Relationships

Son of Odysseus

Son of Penelope

Half-brother of Telegonus

Companion of Circe

A naiad who marries Helios to gain status. She is indifferent to her children unless they bring her prestige. She actively scorns Circe while boasting of her more successful offspring.

Key Relationships

Wife of Helios

Mother of Circe

Mother of Pasiphaë

Mother of Aeëtes

A Titan who disobeys Zeus for the benefit of humans. He openly confesses to the crime and accepts severe punishment. His quiet endurance deeply impacts a young Circe.

Key Relationships

Uncle of Circe

A hard-working mortal fisherman who fears Circe's divine nature initially. After Circe uses magic to transform him into a sea god, he changes completely. He adopts the arrogance and casual callousness typical of immortals.

Key Relationships

Admirer of Circe

Suitor of Scylla

A beautiful nymph who earns Circe's jealousy. Through magical interference, she is transformed into a terrifying monster that preys on mortal sailors. Her fate represents a permanent source of guilt for Circe.

Key Relationships

Romantic interest of Glaucos

Victim of Circe

The shrewd messenger god and son of Zeus. He visits Aiaia purely for amusement and gossip. He offers Circe intermittent company in exchange for her stories and hospitality.

Key Relationships

Companion of Circe

Messenger for Athena

The mortal wife of Odysseus. She travels to Aiaia to protect her son from divine interference. She proves to be a gracious guest, sharing stories at the loom and demonstrating an aptitude for learning witchcraft.

Key Relationships

Wife of Odysseus

Mother of Telemachus

Friend of Circe

The powerful Olympian goddess of war and wisdom. She operates strictly according to the Fates and manipulates mortal lives to achieve her desired outcomes. She clashes violently with Circe's protective magic over the fate of Telegonus.

Key Relationships

Patron of Odysseus

Enemy of Telegonus

Adversary of Circe

Prospective patron of Telemachus

A mortal witch and the daughter of Aeëtes. Blinded by her love for Jason, she commits horrific acts against her own family to secure her escape from her cruel father.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Aeëtes

Partner of Jason

Niece of Circe

The mortal son of Zeus and king of Crete. He is abusive and arrogant, though heavily controlled by his wife's specialized poisonous magic.

Key Relationships

Husband of Pasiphaë

The sweet, soft-spoken mortal daughter of Pasiphaë. Unlike her mother, she displays deep pity for the monstrous Minotaur and treats the creature with uncharacteristic compassion.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Pasiphaë

The young mortal son of Daedalus. His presence in Crete forces his genius father to remain in the service of Queen Pasiphaë.

Key Relationships

Son of Daedalus

An old, powerful stingray god possessing a lethally poisonous tail. He requires immense sacrifice and pain from anyone seeking to claim a piece of his power.

Key Relationships

Bargains with Circe

The son of Helios and Perse. He eventually departs for Persia, demonstrating the same cruel and sadistic tendencies shared by the rest of his immediate family.

Key Relationships

Son of Helios

Brother of Circe