The Beauty of the Byronic Legacy

EXPLORING ROMANTICISM THROUGH THE BYRONIC HERO AND ITS MODERN-DAY REVIVAL

Written and Graphics by Arella Warren, Arts Editor

Nature, aesthetic, passion, imagination, introspection, spirit — these are the things in life that concern the romanticist. They were enamored with the mysteries and beauties of existence, the sensory world and finding the grandiose in even the most insignificant of things. While classicism preached simplicity and conservatism, the romanticists rejected this ideology and sought to break free from long-held constraints. One of the leading figures of romanticism in 19th century Europe was the poet, Lord George Gordon Byron, remembered for his literary genius, unparalleled sarcasm and actualization of the Byronic Hero.

Lord Byron was born in 1788 to an aristocratic family, though his life was far from traditional.1 Byron was afflicted with clubfoot from birth, causing him a life of insecurity, while his father, known as “Mad Jack,” abandoned him and his mother after splurging their family fortune.2 This left the boy with permanent abandonment issues and taught him a lack of self-restraint early on. His mother made an effort to educate and discipline him, but Byron was already an eccentric character heading down an unpredictable path.

At 17, Byron went off to college where he quickly began to incur debt, experiment with opium and engage in sexual endeavors with women and men alike — something which he was notorious for throughout his life.3 It was also in college where Byron first dabbled in poetry. In 1807, he published “Hours of Idleness” and after receiving a critical review, he retaliated with “English Bards and Scotch Reviewers,” a satirical piece that ravaged high literary society but warranted recognition of his literary brilliance.4

1 L. Marchand, “Lord Byron,” Encyclopædia Britannica, April 15, 2020. 2Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid. At only 21, Byron went on to claim his spot in the House of Lords and then embarked on a grand voyage across Europe which influenced several of his best known works, including “Don Juan” and “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.”5 It is through Childe Harold that the Byronic Hero first emerges as a subset of the Romantic Hero.6 Though Byron was struck by illness at 36, his life was a romanticist’s dream, full of exploration, love affairs, poetry, arts, danger, and even heroism.7 Byron spent his last years in Greece helping them fight for independence from the Ottoman Empire and was named a national hero in death.

An existential man with a dark, traumatic past; led to a lifestyle of experimentation with sex, substances and selfexpression; with the potentiality for profound, creative genius; yet also prone to radicalism, recklessness, sensitivity, and borderline psychosis… This tale may sound familiar, as it is Byron’s own life that inspired the Byronic Hero. Known for being a “tortured soul,” this type is moody, brooding, sensitive and even morbid, but also passionate, alluring, sharpwitted and reflective. While they are similar to the traditional Romantic Hero who rejects social norms and places himself and his desires at the center of his existence, the Byronic Hero has an added edge, and may be at odds with even himself. Like Byron, who was once described as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know,” the Byronic Hero has the potential to rise into the light, but just as often he may succumb to his internal darkness.8

5 Editors of Biography.com, “Lord Byron,” The Biography.com website, Jun. 22, 2020. 6 A. Kelly, “Literary Blueprints: The Byronic Hero,” The Ploughshares Blog, Jan. 1, 2015. 7Ibid. 8 Editors of Biography.com, “Lord Byron,” The Biography.com website, Jun. 22, 2020.

Classic literary examples of this Byronic type include Heathcliff, Edward Rochester, Dorian Gray and Jay Gatsby, to name a few of the major ones. Byron’s legacy is actually the source for the elegant subhuman archetype as well and inspired classic tales such as Dracula and Frankenstein.9 More recently, we’ve seen a modern resurgence of this archetype in characters like Severus Snape, Jack Sparrow, Edward Cullen, Vanessa Ives, and more.

While the Byronic figure has oftentimes been construed into the villain, we are starting to see more readaptations that recognize their potential and the importance of character growth. Too often, the media has romanticized and ornamented this darker personality type, idolizing their dangerous and sometimes psychotic dispositions. Yet the ideal Byronic Hero is one who rises above this; they take their dark inclinations and make them into something productive.

Beth Harmon, from Netflix’s recently debuted “The Queen’s Gambit” is the quintessential example of the Byronic Hero at their best — and in female form, at that. She’s an orphan troubled by a traumatic past, with a compulsive intelligence which she uses to her advantage, and a temperamental personality, leading her to severe substance abuse to keep her feelings in check. Yet the beautiful thing about Beth is that with time, she is able to recognize and overcome. Rather than allow her life to be consumed by woe, she looks to her community for help and grows into the powerful young woman she is meant to be.

Not only is Beth a masterfullywritten character, but she’s one who is able to grow past setbacks and weaknesses, finding a balance between creativity and cognition — and this, I feel, is the truest message we can take from the Byronic figure. A little romanticization can be inspiring and create lasting impressions, but we don’t want to go so far as to put that person, all flaws included, on a pedestal from which they can never come down.

Although the media is finally carving more of a place for empowered heroines, such as Beth, it’s still uncommon to find women depicted as sensual, alluring and mysterious, but also intellectually gifted and self-motivated. It’s even more uncommon to see a strong antihero who is non-binary or BIPOC, as representation in modern-day media continues to fall short.

Still, Byron was quite a progressive individual for his time, and his legacy leaves us with an important message. Byron didn’t discriminate between men or women in terms of sexuality or cognitive ability. He was actually quite liberal by contemporary standards, and he got a lot of flak from high society for it, but he never allowed this to hinder his radiant spirit or passion.

If we can take one thing from Byron’s legacy, it’s that we shouldn’t be afraid to let our unique brilliance shine through, even when it differs from society’s norms. But in our quests to become the protagonists of our own stories, we have to heed the message of the Byronic Hero, allowing the darknesses of our past and present dilemmas to inspire us rather than consume our lives and lead us to an even darker chapter. ■

ARTS “Although the media is finally carving more of a place for empowered heroines, such as Beth, it’s still uncommon to find women depicted as sensual, alluring and mysterious, but also intellectually gifted and selfmotivated.”