Exploring the Interplay of Gender and Power in Madeline Miller’s Novel 'Circe’

Abstract

Power and gender are not distributed and viewed equally in a male-dominated society. Men usually have a significant role and are more powerful than women, while women often become the second sex or subordinated and powerless. This study aims to analyze the relation between gender and power in a male-dominated society. The object of this study is a novel by Madeline Miller, entitled Circe. The research method used in this study is qualitative. It uses the theory of power and gender by Lipman-Blument (1994) and the theory of gendered power by Lee and Pratto (2018) as the basis for the gender and power relation. The finding of this study shows that power and gender have an essential function in determining people’s roles and power in society. In this case, gender shapes perceptions and patterns between men and women manifested in gender roles that lead to inequality between men and women.

Keywords: gender, gendered power, power