Esteban Trueba, from "The House of the Spirits" by Isabel Allende, and Pechorin, from "A Hero of Our Time" by Mikhail Lermontov, both appear to be Byronic Heroes in each novel. However, Esteban is found not to be the Byronic Hero when closely examined. Pechorin is what he first appears to be. He has a demonic nature, possesses dark qualities, and is destructive of others throughout the entire novel. While Esteban appears to also have these dark qualities, some of his actions do not go along with his characteristics. He may appear to cause destruction of others, but does so unintentionally as a result of human nature. Allende reveals Esteban to be someone completely different and Pechorin to be exactly who he is conceived by characterization. Both the authors show that people can either turn out to be exactly the same as their first impression or completely different when first seen.
Isabel Allende, Miami Book Fair International, 199...
English: Painting of Mikhail Vrubel "Pechorin and ...
English: selfportrait Русский: М. Ю. Ле...The demonic nature possessed by the Byronic Hero is possessed by Pechorin, but not by Esteban because he possesses human nature, which provides him with emotions. Pechorin is evil by nature having him naturally possessing evil instincts. He "loves enemies - they amuse him, stir his blood" (Lermontov 113). He does not love them in the "Christian way" (113) by forgiving them for their wrongs, but instead encourages them to take vengeance. He "has fun" (86) in destroying relationships and finds heartache entertaining. He loves people that despise him rather than people that love him. He makes Princess Mary fall in love with him, then later breaks her heart because "the thought of her being awake all night crying gives him enormous satisfaction" (120). Knowing that he has caused someone pain satisfies him, he plans a well thought-out idea to break Grushintsky and Princess Mary's hearts. "To cause...