Galatea

Madeline Miller

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myth retelling

pygmalion perspective

feminism

emotional prose

woman carved from stone

struggle for autonomy

oppressive contemporary constraints

balance of depth and brevity

captivating writing style

relationship struggle

strong emotional responses

sacrifices and desires

created being experience

Galatea by Madeline Miller is a short story retelling the Pygmalion myth from the perspective of the statue brought to life. The story explores themes of feminism, freedom, and the desires and sacrifices of the protagonist, Galatea. The writing style is captivating and engaging, drawing readers into the world of a woman carved from stone who longs for her daughter and struggles against a controlling and demanding husband.

Characters:

Characters are portrayed with depth, especially Galatea, who embodies the struggle between autonomy and control.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by its engaging prose and ability to elicit strong emotional responses, drawing readers into Galatea's world.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot offers a fresh retelling of the Pygmalion myth, highlighting Galatea's perspective as she grapples with her life as a created being and her relationship with her husband.

Setting:

The setting grounds the narrative in a blend of ancient mythology and oppressive contemporary constraints.

Pacing:

The pacing effectively balances the brevity of the story with the depth of Galatea's experiences.

“Just lie back and I’ll bring you something to eat,” she said. She had a mole on the side of her lip and I liked to watch it while she talked. Some moles are beautiful and distinctive, like dappling o...

Notes:

Galatea is a short story by Madeline Miller, only about 20 pages long on Kindle.

It retells the Pygmalion myth from the statue's perspective.

The story portrays Galatea as a woman with feelings and needs, not just a lifeless statue.

The sculptor, Pygmalion, initially desired Galatea for his pleasure, but struggles with her independence when she comes to life.

Galatea longs to see her daughter and ultimately saves her from a tragic fate.

Many readers find the story haunting and emotionally impactful.

The hard copy version is around 50 pages and includes an afterword by Miller explaining her inspiration for the story.

The story is available as a standalone eBook and is also part of a collection called 'XO Orpheus'.

Readers appreciate the feminist themes in Galatea, similar to Miller's other works like Circe.

The narrative style unfolds at just the right pace, enhancing the reading experience.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The story contains themes of control, objectification, and oppressive relationships that could be triggering for some readers.

From The Publisher:

A short story from the author of The Song of Achilles and Circe

In Ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece - the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen - the gift of life. Now his wife, Galatea is expected to be obedience and humility personified, but it is not long before she learns to use her beauty as a form of manipulation.

In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, she is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost...

From the Orange Prize-winning author of The Song of Achilles, this short story is a dazzling retelling of the myth of Galatea.

Ratings (34)

Incredible (6)
Loved It (17)
Liked It (7)
It Was OK (4)

Reader Stats (64):

Read It (38)
Want To Read (23)
Not Interested (3)

1 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

Loved It

4 months

I decided to out another star on my review. I gave it three as it was a very short book (audio book). I usually don't pick up such short stories as I often fear they will be to short. But when it's by this author I'll give most a try. This was very good altough I'm not very familiar with the myth.

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