Icarus Character Analysis in Circe

Icarus is Daedalus’s son, whom he loves very much. Pasiphaë uses Icarus as her weapon to keep Daedalus obedient. Pasiphaë’s cruelty in keeping Icarus imprisoned demonstrates how bystanders become collateral damage in the gods’ quest for power; Icarus grows up locked away in a palace and never gets to live free—he dies when trying to escape.

Icarus Character Timeline in Circe

The timeline below shows where the character Icarus appears in Circe. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Power, Fear, and Self-Preservation Theme Icon

...agrees and meets him in his quarters that night. While there, Daedalus introduces his son Icarus to her. Seeing Daedalus’s tenderness with the child, Circe knows that Pasiphaë must have immediately... (full context)

After Daedalus gives Icarus a goodnight kiss, Circe comments that the boy is very happy. Daedalus agrees, but he... (full context)

...for their own glory. She recalls the love in Daedalus’s eyes when he looked at Icarus and knows that Pasiphaë instantly saw this as a way to keep him under her... (full context)

Years later, Circe hears of Daedalus’s escape. The craftsman made wings for himself and Icarus to fly away from Crete to Africa. But Icarus flew too close to the sun,... (full context)