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"Circe Offering the Cup to Odysseus," painted in 1891 by John William Waterhouse

Small background on this story 👇

First of all, Circe's arc from Epic the musical is one of my favorites so I have to represent her story again, even though I've already done a video on her which is linked as a related video for those who might not have seen it. It covered a different painting and used a different style then this one.

As for the story, when Odysseus and his weary crew wash upon her island of Aeaea, it seems at first like a dream come true for them. But beneath the welcoming charm of Circe lay danger. With a touch of magic, Circe reveals her true nature, twisting Odysseus’s men into pigs, calling it "their true form". Luckily for them, one of the men stayed back and was able to warn Odysseus of the dangerous sorceress. Odysseus was also helped by the god Hermes who provided a plant which allowed Odysseus to arm himself with protection against her spells. Then he storms her palace and Circe tries to break him with her magic, but her power fails. For the first time, she meets a mortal who cannot be bent to her will. Their clash is as much about wit and willpower as it is about strength, with Circe conjuring monsters and illusions to destroy him, only to find herself face-to-face with a man whose love for his wife and home burns brighter than any spell she can weave. Eventually they come to a sort of stalemate.
So far I wouldn't even consider Circe a villain in this story, she is a woman who had her island trespassed upon and whose nymphs were put into potential danger. She has every right to be doing what she did in my opinion. So after the stalemate, when she tries to seduce Odysseus, it’s not just to claim him, but to test him. His refusal, rooted in loyalty to Penelope, stirs something in her that even she doesn’t fully understand. In the end, she relents, freeing his men and choosing not to destroy them. Now that her nymphs and home are safe, there is no more reason for her to push for violence. Instead, she offers them something far more valuable: guidance for the perilous path ahead, including the road to the Underworld. Circe’s island becomes a place of transformation not just for Odysseus’s men, but for Circe herself. She begins as a puppeteer pulling the strings of men she considered beasts, and ends with a newfound respect for humanity. Saying maybe eventually she will not have to protect her home from evil people. Quite a hopeful idea for someone with trauma like Circe.

What do you think about this painting and the story of Circe? Do you enjoy Epic the musical also?

Thanks for learning about this beautiful painting and story with me! ❤