Napoleon Byronic Hero Essay

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.
Another Byronic hero trait is the belief that the very thing that makes

up great is the very thing that will eventually destroy us. This aspect is

demonstrated in Stanza 40, which states, " Sager than in thy fortunes; for in

them ambition steel'd thee on too far to show That just habitual scorn which

could contemn Men and their thoughts; ‘twas wise to feel, not so To wear it

ever on thy lip and brow, and spurn the instruments thou wert to

use Till they were turn'd unto thine overthrow: ‘Tis but a worthless world

to win or lose; So hath it proved to thee, and all such lot who choose."

Another trait that the Byronic hero possesses is the problem of being

destroyed by the very thing that makes the hero great. I believe that this

means that you can only go so far to please people. You do all

you can for them and they begin to love you and praise you. One day you wake

up and you find yourself being blamed and punished for the very thing that

got you to the top, by the very people who once were a part of your team.

It's as if you can't win for