The Byronic Hero

A hero proves his heroism when faced with opposition. He is shrewd,

tough, clear-sighted, experienced, and able to handle adversity in a well

equipped manner. However, unlike most heroes, the Byronic hero does not

receive satisfaction simply from possessing these traits. The Byronic hero

sees himself as an individual who practices non conformity. He is a hero of

consciousness more than a hero of action. These qualities of the Byronic

hero are demonstrated in Lord Byron's description of Napoleon.

Byron begins his description in Stanza 36. He points out that Napoleon

is "Extreme in all things!" I believe that this trait means that the

Byronic hero is neither to the left nor the right, but eternally caught in

the middle of both worlds.

Stanza 38 goes on to say, "Oh, more or less than man-in high or low,

Battling with nations, flying from the field; Now making monarchs' necks thy

footstool, now More than they meanest soldier taught to yield; An empire thou

couldest crush, command, rebuild, But govern not thy pettiest passion, nor,

However deeply in men's spirits skill'd, Look through thine own, nor curb

the lust of war, Nor learn that tempted Fate will leave the loftiest star."

I believe that Lord Byron is saying that Napoleon can crush any nation, only

to rebuild it again, and he can win any war, and have control over thousands

of men. It is the war within himself that he has no control over, that he is

not able to crush. Lines 339-342 are referring to the war which Napoleon is

having with himself, and his inability to control it. This is a very

important characteristic of the Byronic hero. It creates the line that comes

between other heroes and the Byronic hero.

Stanza 39 is saying that even though those who once praised him now mock

him, Napoleon is not going to go quietly in to the night, so to speak. Line

350 says "He stood unbowed beneath the ills upon him piled." This line

points out the integrity factor that the Byronic hero possess. All though

those who were once with him are now against him, he is not going to let them

control his fate, instead he stands with his head tall, integrity in place.

This also hints at non conformity. Most heroes would probably have laid with

down and died along with their pride, but once again, Napoleon stood tall,

refusing