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“Every moment of my peace was a lie, for it came only at the gods’ pleasure. No matter what I did, how long I lived, at a whim they would be able to reach down and do with me what they wished.”
In Chapter 17, Circe struggles with the illusion of her autonomy as she grasps the fact that she must say goodbye to Odysseus. He has provided her first extended experience with happiness found in loving someone. When Apollo brings his prophecy, it is a stark reminder that the gods have power over her, and they can exercise it at will. Be it from Circe’s father who kept her in check or Zeus who commanded that she be exiled or Athena who threatens everything she holds dear, Circe must live with the knowledge that she is but a pawn to the gods. This idea echoes with the question of free will versus destiny, a philosophical riddle that resonates thematically throughout the novel. When Circe finally seeks to abandon her immortality, she embraces the inevitability that morals have always faced. There are no guarantees for happiness or longevity in life. Mortality, Circe understands, allows her the opportunity to find space for herself within the finite time she will have and disregard the things she cannot control, including her fate.
