A new concept of hero: The Byronic hero Noemí Viñas Hernández

Abstract

This essay is an attempt to differentiate the Romantic hero from the Byronic one according to their conventions, as well as to relate the characteristics of the Byronic hero with Byron himself since the archetype shares many of Byron’s biographical details. By identifying the characteristics of the Byronic hero and comparing them with Byron’s biography it can be realized that there are many similitudes among them and that Byron’s heroes are a reflection of him. In addition, some examples of heroes that follow the Byronic archetype will be provided showing that Byron not only was influential in his own times but also in contemporary literature. Keywords: Anti-hero, Byron, Byronic hero, Romantic hero, Romanticism

Romanticism was a literary period developed since the end of the 18th century until the first decades of the 19th century. This period emerged as a reaction against the rationality of the

Enlightenment and Neoclassicism. In this literary movement, there was a change of mind and some ideals such as individualism and the use of imagination and intuition were exalted. In addition, the expression of feelings and emotions in a passionate and sensitive way became prominent. Romantic writers also had their own concept of hero. The romantic hero was more complex and peculiar than the neoclassical hero since Romantics focused on passions, and there was an emphasis on the examination of human psychology.

Romantic writers characterized their heroes following the same conventions, however, Lord

Byron developed his own type of hero, the so-called Byronic hero:

The Byronic hero, incapable of love, or capable only of an impossible love, suffers endlessly. He is solitary, languid, his condition exhausts him. If he wants to feel alive, it must be in the terrible exaltation of a brief and destructive action. To love someone whom one will never see again is to give a cry of exultation as one perishes in the flames of passion. (Camus 2012: 49)

This darker hero has its origin in Byron´s Childe Harold which is the main character of the

epic poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. (Thorslev 47-48). There are also However, Lord Byron himself also could be considered as the first Byronic hero since he has all the characteristics of this anti-hero.

Byron as his heroes rebelled against conventions and society since he has a low tolerance for societal norms. Byron led an unconventional lifestyle full of scandals, excesses, debts, love affairs and drugs among others. He also was an intelligent man who had a dark side due to his ruthless and arrogance. Byron had a hard life since he was traumatized and emotionally tortured when he was a child. “If the father were a heartless, selfish rake, the mother, destitute of all self-control, blindly yielded herself to all the impulses of the moment, and was as much wanting in solemn feelings of duty as her husband.” (Elze 1872: 15). All this resulted in a lack of discipline throughout his entire life and a tendency to be self-destructive.

Byronic heroes can be denominated as anti-heroes due to his darkness and depressive tendency. Despite of these negative features, the archetype of Byronic hero has been tremendously influential. There have been many writers who have based their characters on

Byron’s heroes such as Emily Brontë and Charlotte Brontë whose characters Heathcliff and Mr

Rochester respectively follow the conventions of Byronic heroes. In addition, current writers have also been influenced like J.K. Rowling whose character Severus Snape could be classified as a Byronic hero.

Byronic heroes which cannot be misunderstood as Romantic heroes can be considered a reflection of their creator, Lord Byron. He changed the previous concept of hero and his own dark conception influenced many writers leaving their personal trace in the history of literature.

Bibliography

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