Anghel (Postica) Maria

spec. l.romn l.englez

A Byronic hero can be conceptualized as an extreme variation of the Romantic
Hero archetype. Traditional Romantic Heroes tend to be defined by their rejection
or questioning of standard social conventions and norms of behavior, their
alienation from larger society, their focus on the self as the center of existence, and
their ability to inspire others to commit acts of good and kindness. Romantic
Heroes are not idealized heroes but imperfect and often flawed heroes who, despite
their sometimes less than savory personalities, often behave in a heroic manner.
According to many literary critics and biographers, Lord Byron developed the
archetype of the Byron Hero in response to his boredom with traditional heroic and
Romantic heroic literary characters. Byron, according critics and biographers,
wanted to introduce a heroic archetype that would be not only more appealing to
readers, but also more psychologically realistic.
Byronic heroes tend to be characterized as being intelligent, cunning, ruthless.
arrogant, depressive, prone to violence, self-aware, emotionally and intellectually
tortured, traumatized, highly emotional, manipulative, self-serving, spiritually
doubtful, often reckless or suicidal, prone to bursts of anger, as well as decidedly
prone to substance abuse, dedicated to perusing matters of justice over matters of
legality, self-destructive impulses, and seductive and sexually appealing. Byronic
Heroes tend to feel loyalty, seemingly, only to themselves and their core beliefs
and values. While they often act on behalf of greater goods, they will rarely
acknowledge doing such.
In 19th century western literature, there are countless examples of Byronic
heroes, including the protagonists of nearly all of Byron's epic poems.
The Childe Harold's Pilgrimage provided the first example of the Byronic hero.
The idea of the Byronic hero is one that consists of many different characteristics.
The hero must have a rather high level of intelligence and perception as well as be
able to easily adapt to new situations and use cunning to his own gain. It is clear
from this description that this hero is well-educated and by extension is rather
sophisticated in his style. Aside from the obvious charm and attractiveness that this
automatically creates, he struggles with his integrity, being prone to mood swings.
Generally, the hero has a disrespect for certain figures of authority, thus creating
the image of the Byronic hero as an exile or an outcast. The hero also has a
tendency to be arrogant and cynical, indulging in self-destructive behaviour which
leads to the need to seduce women.
Another example of the Byronic hero is attested in dramatic poem, Manfred.
Manfred is a Faustian noble living in the Bernese Alps. Internally tortured by
some mysterious guilt, which has to do with the death of his most beloved, Astarte,
he uses his mastery of language and spell-casting to summon seven spirits, from
whom he seeks forgetfulness. The spirits, who rule the various components of the
corporeal world, are unable to control past events and thus cannot grant Manfred's
plea. For some time, fate prevents him from escaping his guilt through suicide.
At the end, Manfred dies defying religious temptations of redemption from sin.
Throughout the poem, he succeeds in challenging all authoritative powers he
comes across, and chooses death over submitting to spirits of higher powers.
Manfred directs his final words to the Abbot, remarking, "Old man! it is not so
difficult to die".