Byronic hero
The Byronic hero is a character archetype named after the poet Lord Byron, characterized by traits that defy traditional heroic ideals. Typically depicted as arrogant, cynical, and self-centered, Byronic heroes often have dark features and a passion for pursuing their goals, regardless of their nobility. Despite these negative traits, they are sometimes capable of selfless acts, which can serve as pivotal moments in their stories.
Originating from literature, the concept of the Byronic hero has expanded into various storytelling media, including film, television, and video games. This character type has influenced the development of the antihero, leading to their frequent appearances alongside more conventional heroes. Notable examples of Byronic heroes can be traced back to earlier works, such as Shakespeare's Hamlet, and continue to be prevalent in modern narratives, including popular vampire fiction and procedural dramas. By the twenty-first century, while Byronic heroes were celebrated for their relatability, they also faced criticism for their perceived arrogance. Overall, the Byronic hero remains a significant and evolving figure in contemporary storytelling.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Byronic hero
The Byronic hero or heroine is a type of character named for the poet Lord Byron. This type of character tends to have traits that contrast with the traditional idea of a hero. Byronic heroes are arrogant, cynical, rude, and self-centered. Traditionally, they have black hair and wear dark clothes, setting them apart even more from typical, fair-haired heroes. Byronic heroes are extremely passionate, with a strong drive to accomplish their goals even if those goals are not noble. Despite their many negative qualities, Byronic heroes are usually capable of selfless, heroic acts, though they are rare and may serve as the climax of the story.
Initially, the Byronic hero appeared only in literature. While it is still strongly associated with written works, following the advent of film, television, and video games, Byronic heroes have appeared across all storytelling media. They are often in the same stories as more traditional heroes, contrasting the attitudes of the two. The Byronic hero had a strong influence on the antihero character type, and the two often overlap in modern fiction.
Background
While Lord Byron's work gave the Byronic hero a name, characters fitting the description date back farther. One example is William Shakespeare's Hamlet, which, along with other similar characters, influenced Byron at a young age.
Byron was born George Gordon Noel Byron in 1788. He grew up in London in an aristocratic family. His father died when he was a child, and he inherited the "Lord" title from an uncle who passed away. As he entered adulthood, Byron began publishing his writings. The title character in Childe Harold's Pilgrimage is believed to be the first character Byron wrote that exhibited the traits of a Byronic hero. The epic poem is a fictionalized version of Byron's own life, and he integrated many of his own traits and features into Childe Harold.
Byron traveled extensively, accumulating a large amount of debt early in his adult life. He was charismatic and impulsive and took part in several love affairs, while forming friendships with other poets and authors. He met the poet Percy Shelley in Switzerland. While staying with Shelley and his future wife, Mary Shelley, the group decided to spend a long storm writing horror stories to share with each other. Mary Shelley created the beginnings of the novel Frankenstein. In the novel, both Dr. Frankenstein and the creature he creates display several Byronic traits.
Byron died at the young age of thirty-six in 1824. Despite his short career, his works were extremely popular among his contemporaries and the generations that followed. Authors began creating literary characters much like Byron's. Byron's personal physician John Polidori wrote "The Vampyre" (1819). The vampires in this work are Byronic heroes and the first vampires in literature capable of romance with humans.
Topic Today
The Byronic hero initially stood out because it was so different from heroes that audiences of the time were accustomed to. But Byronic heroes—heroes with flaws and vices—became increasingly common in later centuries.
At the same time, villains with Byronic traits became increasingly popular in modern fiction. As with heroes, this is a sign of the changes in storytelling over the centuries. Fairy tales, myths, and other older stories frequently depicted evil characters as ugly with straightforward motives. Villains with Byronic traits are often attractive, and while their goals are usually intended to be undesirable to an audience, their dedication and passion can be sympathetic.
While the Byronic hero is often seen as relatable in contrast to older, more traditional character types, by the twenty-first century, it was common enough to draw criticism. One frequent complaint among audiences and critics is that the sense of superiority many Byronic heroes display makes them unlikable. Whether or not such a character is well received tends to depend on how he or she is portrayed. Some stories glorify their protagonists' arrogance, while others treat it as a flaw.
Vampires and romance intertwined many times in fiction. Stories depicting vampires as charismatic, possessive, and regretful of their past began to outnumber stories depicting them as savage monsters. Dracula, Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Twilight, and the Sookie Stackhouse series (also known by the name of its television adaptation True Blood) all depict vampires with Byronic traits.
Especially in the twenty-first century, Byronic heroes were popular television characters. Procedural shows, featuring police or medical drama, often feature at least one major character with Byronic traits. These include House, Scrubs, NCIS, and X-Files.
Some long-running series have depicted their main characters with differing amounts of Byronic traits over time. Some iterations of James Bond, Doctor Who, and Sherlock Holmes perfectly fit the definition of a Byronic hero, while others may barely resemble it. This often coincides with changes in the actor playing the role or the writer creating it.
The book series Harry Potter contains two Byronic heroes as supporting characters: Severus Snape and Sirius Black. The two are at odds with each other in their shared appearances throughout the series. While both fit the definition, they are very different characters.
Another common site for Byronic characters is the comic book superhero genre. As with other media, this has evolved over time. Many early superheroes were cheerful and friendly, while villains were plainly evil. Over the years, antiheroes and Byronic heroes became much more common, including Iron Man, Cable, and Emma Frost.
Bibliography
"Characteristics of the Byronic Hero." University of Michigan, www.umd.umich.edu/casl/hum/eng/classes/434/charweb/CHARACTE.htm. Accessed 22 Oct 2017.
"Lord Byron." BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic‗figures/byron‗lord.shtml. Accessed 22 Oct. 2017.
"The Satanic and Byronic Hero: Overview." The Norton Anthology of English Literature, www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/romantic/topic‗5/welcome.htm. Accessed 23 Oct 2017.
Stein, Atara. The Byronic Hero in Film, Fiction, and Television. Southern Illinois University Press, 2009.
Stott, Andrew. "The Poet, the Physician and the Birth of the Modern Vampire." The Public Domain Review, publicdomainreview.org/2014/10/16/the-poet-the-physician-and-the-birth-of-the-modern-vampire/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2017.
"The 21st Century and the Rise of the Byronic Hero." Odyssey, www.theodysseyonline.com/the-21st-century-and-the-rise-of-the-byronic-hero. Accessed 23 Oct 2017.