Reviews with content warning for Death - Galatea

An interesting take on the Pygmalion myth, certainly one that I think a lot of women have mulled over before. It was short and to the point, well written but not all that groundbreaking, I think.

Content Warnings

ollie_again's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Content Warnings

kate_white's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5

Content Warnings

just_one_more_paige's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Well, since The Song of Achilles broke me emotionally and Circe is an all time favorite book, I figured I would eventually get around to reading this newest, short story, publication from Miller. And when I say short, I really mean it. This took me, at most, like twenty minute to read, and that was with a slow-roll reading vibe. But it was twenty minutes that was *really* well spent.

Galatea is a reimagining of the myth of Pygmalion. In the original story, by Ovid, a sculptor who creates his "ideal" version of womanhood in marble, falls in love with his creation. And after praying to the gods for a miracle, the statue is brought to life for him. In this shifted-perspective telling, Miller gives us the story from the statue's point of view. Named Galatea, she is confined both spiritually and physically by her husband's expectations of feminine obedience and modesty. But when she realizes the freedom and safety of her daughter's future is in jeopardy, Galatea makes a bid for independence.

Miller’s afterward captures all the things I wanted to say, in reflecting on this short story, which I believe is a mark of how good it is, that she accomplished all the insights and commentaries that she set out to do, and in such a short piece. Calling out the gross assumptions about women in the original, that purity is central to a woman's "goodliness" and that a women's identity is completely tied in with her ability to fulfill a man's fantasies and expectations, and giving Galatea a name and voice of her own, Miller reclaims this famous and popular story, giving her the power that has historically been provided only to those men who feel their own reality is threatened by women's independence and thus seek to control that which they (hate how much they) desire.

As far as the writing goes, the tones of creepiness in the man’s controlling and judgemental and overall highlight suspect behavior create on-point tension. Galatea’s own voice, of pragmatism and clarity, feels exactly right stylistically and in line with character-development for a woman brought to life from stone. And the way she uses that to take control of her own story, and her daughter’s future, are just right. And that ending...oooof. It was potent, in a reclamation type way, that one can’t help but applaud the twist of justice, even as one despises the reality that made it have to end like that.

Despite the short length, the impression I'm left with after reading this is striking, and the emotional reactions are heavy. Such high quality, as all Miller’s writing has been. A haunting story, in all the important and lasting ways.

“But it does seem foolish that he didn't think it through, how could I not both live and still be a statue.”

Content Warnings

skyegbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Small but indisputably impactful.

Content Warnings

vern31's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

krisalexcole's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.75

Content Warnings

allapaz's review against another edition

Go to review page

fast-paced

4.0

i would read madeline miller's grocery list. a gem of a short story, and a strong take on a classic myth that is so widely adapted without addressing the disturbing cloud that looms over it.

Content Warnings

More...