Sir Lord Byron's use of the byronic hero.

Essay by tubbycowHigh School, 10th gradeA+, May 2003

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Perhaps the most significant element to be pulled from the vast amount of important and celebrated literature of the 19th century Poet Lord Byron is his contribution of the character he created known as the Byronic Hero. As Lord Byron's appellation, the Byronic hero is an important literary character, which proves useful when one attempts to understand and grasp the literary style that lord Byron wrote in, and the person that he was.

The Byronic hero, who is first introduced in 1812 in the beginning stanzas of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, immediately conveys the message to the reader as that of a unique individual. "The Byronic hero exhibits several characteristic traits, and in many ways he can be considered a rebel. The Byronic hero does not possess "heroic virtue" in the usual sense; instead, he has many dark qualities. With regard to his intellectual capacity, self-respect, and hypersensitivity, the Byronic hero is "larger than life," and "with the loss of his titanic passions, his pride, and his certainty of self-identity, he loses also his status as a traditional hero" The Byronic hero is often considered to be alone.

He is exiled, in many cases willingly, and isolated from society. His satanic acts and risky lifestyle contribute to this immensely. These attributes are often seen not only in Byron's work but in himself as well. As a young student, he often drank from a skull to impress friends. Byron was also regarded as a sinner, and was known for his outrageous social life, which had him frequently attending parties, and at many times cheating on his wife.

This character might not seem to be a hero in any sense, however upon further examination one discovers a new kind of hero. One whose independence, freedom and need for escape can been...