Byronic hero

As an obsessive and ambitious creator in pursuit of great knowledge, Victor Frankenstein and his doppelganger, the Monster, display many characteristics of the Byronic hero celebrated by Lord Byron in many of his greatest works, including Manfred. Mary Shelley’s depiction of the life and actions of Frankenstein and his Monster, however, suggest that the Byronic hero is not to be lauded as a great and sympathetic character exuding true independence and courage, but rather as a self-centred and contemptible character with no regard for the way his actions affect others. According to Peter Thorslev, author of The Byronic Hero, the Byronic hero is one of the most notable types of literary heroes during the Romantic period: [...] Romantic heroes…

The monster that Victor Frankenstein created was a Byronic hero. A Byronic Hero is a charismatic, broken, dark individual often in exile with a troubled past. The hero has flaws that make him more human like and attainable to the audience. He is a vulnerable and imperfect being and in these traits, we find Victor Frankenstein’s monster. Lord Byron penned the first Byronic hero in 1812. When Mary Shelly wrote, “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” (1823) she was arguably influenced from his…

The concept of Gothicism is displayed in many ways through Heathcliff. He commits acts of vengeance because he is upset about Catherine leaving him for Edgar. He held Isabella captive after marrying her and treated her like crap. This created a hero-damsel in distress relationship between Nelly and Isabella. Along with his vindictive actions, Heathcliff’s presence is dark and gloomy, painting him as a villain. The Ghost of Catherine haunts not only Heathcliff, but his castle, Wuthering Heights.…

When Anakin Skywalker fails to save the woman of his dreams, he gives himself to the dark side of the force, and transforms into Darth Vader to avenge her death. Displaying behaviors that allow him to be branded a Byronic hero, he even shares a similar fate with the character Heathcliff in Emily Bronte’s romantic novel Wuthering Heights. Taking on the role of a Byronic hero, Heathcliff follows the model set forth by Lord Byron himself with his own Byronic heroes: intelligent, manipulative, and…

Heathcliff, The Byronic Hero Not all heroes are righteous and alike. A traditional hero saves the day, helps people, and is accepted by almost everyone. There is another kind of hero called a Byronic hero. This kind of hero possesses dark qualities, ruins the day, and is typically an exile. Heathcliff’s passion for revenge and passion for love shows Heathcliff’s characterization of a Byronic Hero. Heathcliff is the Byronic hero in Emily Bronte’s novel, Wuthering Heights. One of the main…

In the Novel Wuthering Heights one can easily see how Heathcliff could be labeled as the Byronic Hero of the story. Certain characteristics distinguish him from the other characters. Heathcliff can be labeled the Byronic Hero due to his personality traits to his isolation from society overall. Heathcliff portrays a very dark character. In the beginning of the novel Heathcliff is said to be a “dark-skinned gypsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman”. This bring many of the readers to…

“A Gothic hero should be passionate, obsessive and unsettling in equal measure.” In light of this comment, discuss the representation of both heroes and heroines in the Gothic texts you have studied this year. Gothic heroes were first known as Byronic heroes being ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’; they normally had a problematic and secretive past therefore isolating themselves from the world be it physically or mentally. Gothic heroines are stereotypically seen to be young, innocent and a…

The mere mention of the word death evokes fear, anxiety and restlessness. It preys on the young and old alike, the poor and rich, the strong and weak, the brave and the cowards. Because of its nature that remains to be a mystery, men and women have turned to poetry to vividly describe it, seeking to shed a glimpse of light on this “might foe” Such thoughts are captured in the two poems by John Donne, “Death, Be Not proud” and “The Tyger” by William Blake. For sure death is just a temporal state.…

Jane Eyre by charlotte Bronte corresponds to the literary genre called Bildungsroman. It relates to the educative events of the journey life takes from childhood to adulthood. The passage studied in this essay is also classed as Gothic genre which features supernatural element like the voice of Mr Rochester Jane recalls clearly hearing out of an unlikely place. In this novel we see Jane growing up in adversary environments passing through a lot of obstacles which she must surmount to survive.…

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge, is a poem that was written in 1798 during the Industrial Revolution. The tale guides the reader through the adventures of an ancient mariner. The mariner begins telling his tale during a wedding. The mariner learns his lesson after killing an innocent Albatross on a voyage. Coleridge uses symbolism and diction to instill the lesson of respect for nature and all of God's creation. The lesson imparted by Coleridge in the poem is done so…