Naz, U.(2025). Mothers, Matrons and Midnight Worries: Portrayal of Single Motherhood in Circe by Madeline Miller. Inter. J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 13(1): 14-17

International Journal of English Literature and Culture

IJELC

ISSN:2360-7831

International Journal of English Literature and Culture

Vol. 13(1), pp. 14-17, February 2025

ISSN: 2360-7831

https://doi.org/10.14662/ijelc2024330

Review

Mothers, Matrons and Midnight Worries: Portrayal of Single Motherhood in Circe by Madeline Miller

Uzma Naz

Research Scholar at Riphah Institute of Media Sciences,Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan Masters of Arts in English literature&linguistics, National University of Modern Language Islamabad.

Corresponding author’s E-mail: E-mail: un91990@gmail.com

Accepted 29 January 2025

Abstract

This research examines how single motherhood is portrayed in Madeline Miller's Circe with an emphasis on the relationship between the protagonist Circe and her son, Telegonus. The study investigates Circe's parenting focusing on harmony between control and warmth using a thematic analysis by using Diana Baumrind's parenting philosophies as conceptual framework. The results shed light on the difficult choices single mothers make and how it is represented in literature. This approach seeks to increase our comprehension of their experiences by supporting careful representations that speak to modern reality. The results of this study may lead to more complex portrayals of single mothers, which would deepen our knowledge of their struggles and resilience and create an effective impact on the perception of society towards them. It also contributes to the existing literature on parenting philosophies.

Keywords: Single Motherhood, Circe, Madeline Miller

Cite This Article As: Naz, U.(2025). Mothers, Matrons and Midnight Worries: Portrayal of Single Motherhood in Circe by Madeline Miller. Inter. J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 13(1): 14-17