Summary

In the seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters of Circe, Miller provides readers with the events that occur immediately following Circe's awakening and exile on the island of Aiaia. As with the previous chapters, this section is told from the first person, past tense, and is divided into three rough sections: Chapter Seven concerns the beginnings of Circe's exile, as well as her exploration of pharmaka; Chapter Eight concerns Circe's newfound relationship with Hermes; and Chapter Nine sees Circe travel to Crete, at her sister Pasiphaë's request.

Chapter Seven begins with Circe being taken by Helios to the island upon which she would be exiled, which is named Aiaia. The island is described as a lush paradise with a hilltop and a house, "wide-porched, its walls built from finely fitted stone, its doors carved twice the height of a man...