Summary

At the open of the Twenty Fifth chapter, Circe is visited by Helios, her father. The two talk, and Circe expresses the desire to end her exile. Helios responds by reminding her that she is being punished for eternity, and then, when he declines her request, Circe threatens him with her memory of Prometheus. "Do you remember," she teases, "when Prometheus was whipped in your hall? . . . I stayed behind, when all the rest of you left. I brought him comfort, and we spoke together" (360). "If you do not see my exile ended," she continues, "I will expose you again. I will tell Zeus what I did . . . . I think Zeus would be glad to know how deep the Titan mutiny goes, don't you?" (360). Realizing this action would start a war, Helios assents to ending Circe's exile.

When she...