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Scars
The novel’s association between the color gold and power shows how power is what is most valuable to the ancient Greeks. The society in the story is a brutal one; a person must abuse others or be abused. Leveraging power is how a person “buys” themselves protection and dominance. In this way, power is like wealth, so it’s no coincidence that the story’s most powerful characters are associated with the color gold, which is also a color associated with wealth. This symbolism is especially prevalent with Helios, the sun god. He is one of the most powerful Titans, and he is strongly connected with gold, since he gives off a gold light. Circe describes how, “At [her] father’s feet, the whole world was made of gold. The light came from everywhere at once.” Helios wields his power cruelly, and people obey and honor him because they fear him.
Because power is so precious, sacrifices of it are notable. In the story, the color gold sometimes emphasizes how selfless it is for someone to give up their power to help others. Both Prometheus and Trygon bleed gold blood when they give away their power. The gold blood flowing out of their bodies is a physical representation of their loss of power; they are sacrificing the very thing their society most values in order to make the world a better place.
Gold Quotes in Circe
The Circe quotes below all refer to the symbol of Gold. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 1
Quotes
“A girl,” my mother said to him, wrinkling her nose.
But my father did not mind his daughters, who were sweet-tempered and golden as the first press of olives. Men and gods paid dearly for the chance to breed from their blood, and my father’s treasury was said to rival that of the king of the gods himself […]
“She will make a fair match,” he said.
“How fair?” my mother wanted to know. This might be consolation, if I could be traded for something better.
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Chapter 20
Quotes
You were ready to fight me to have it. Not if I am willing?
My stomach churned against itself. “Please. Do not make me do this.”
Make you? Child, you have come to me […]
I lifted the blade, touched its tip to the creature’s skin. It tore as flowers tear, ragged and easy. The golden ichor welled up, drifting over my hands. I remember what I thought: surely, I am condemned for this. I can craft all the spells I want, all the magic spears. Yet I will spend the rest of my days watching this creature bleed […]
The darkness around us shimmered with clouds of his gilded blood. Beneath my feet were the bones of a thousand years. I thought I cannot bear this world a moment longer.
Then, child, make another.
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Get the entire Circe LitChart as a printable PDF.
Gold Symbol Timeline in Circe
The timeline below shows where the symbol Gold appears in Circe. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Sitting at her father’s feet, Circe sees the world as “made of gold” because of the light he gives off. While Circe can stare into his face, looking...
(full context)
The cows are pure white and perfect, with gilded horns and gleaming coats. Lampetia and Phaethousa (whom Circe struggles to tell apart) try to...
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Chapter 2
...The Fury also leaves. At last, only Circe remains in the hall with Prometheus, whose golden blood streams down his back. Circe remembers having heard that Prometheus could have begged for...
(full context)
Chapter 10
...wealthy city of Knossos. Circe imagines Minos, king of the bustling port-city, collecting all the gold from the docks, inns, and brothels.
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...give money to the families of the dead men. When Circe counters by saying that “Gold does not give back a life,” Pasiphaë retorts that “the families would rather have the...
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Chapter 11
...boy is very happy. Daedalus agrees, but he bitterly adds that it won’t last: “A golden cage is still a cage.” As Circe asks Daedalus where he dreams to go, she...
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Chapter 12
...practices spells, and learns how to weave. But her mind returns to Daedalus’s words: “A golden cage is still a cage.”
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Chapter 13
...and launches into his tale of how he went to Aeëtes to win the sorcerer’s golden fleece. Medea, her hand on Jason’s, interrupts his story to emphasize how “No mortal, however...
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Chapter 14
The feasting tapers off, and Circe notices the men eyeing her tapestries and golden plates. She is charmed by their wonder after living with nymphs who are accustomed to...
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Chapter 17
...until the end of summer. But she believes that her request would disappoint him, for “Golden witches are not supposed to beg.” So, she shows off her island to him and...
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Chapter 20
...her how to cut the stinger off. She does so, and the sight of Trygon’s golden blood feels like a curse. She watches the blood trail behind him as he swims...
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