Circe’s lion has long represented the feminine power and independence that Circe felt when she discovered her witchcraft. Its death thus symbolizes the crumbling of the illusion that Circe had about her own power in exile. Although Circe initially felt like her magic gave her control over herself and the beings around her, her power was only an illusion. Circe is still trapped on an island and is therefore still at the mercy of the gods’ decisions, which is emphasized by the arrival of all the unwelcome nymphs. Significantly, the lion also dies after Circe has tried to kill Scylla but is unsuccessful, as well as after Circe’s limited success in reducing the Minotaur’s violence. Circe’s power is not as boundless as she once felt it was. As a woman and a lesser divinity, Circe is still under the gods’ control. Her good will doesn’t rid the world of its evil, and her exile dooms her to a life of loneliness. With the death of her lion, her final companion, Circe is aware of her life’s hollowness and feels powerless and unfulfilled.