How culture affects characterisation : a reception study of Circe in Epic : The Musical

Abstract

Epic: The Musical is a modern reimagining of Homer’s Odyssey in which the character of Circe is reframed. In the Odyssey, Circe is depicted as a magically and sexually dangerous adversary of Odysseus. In the musical, Circe’s narrative role is more complex, and her perspective is included to shed light on her actions. Further, while Circe and Odysseus have sexual intercourse in the Odyssey, they do not in the musical. The significance of these changes is investigated by analysing the cultural norms and social morality which underlie the respective portrayals of Circe in the Odyssey and in the musical.