What Are the Features of a Byronic Hero?

Answer

What are the features of a Byronic hero? Discuss with reference to Canto 1 of Don Juan.

Lord Byron’s (1788-1824) “Don Juan” presents a unique type of hero—the Byronic hero. Byron believed that a real man should be of flesh and blood with essential human feelings and emotions. From this belief, he created his heroes—who became known as the Byronic hero.

In “Don Juan, Canto I,” Byron says about his hero:

“I want a hero: an uncommon want,

I’ll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan…”

Don Juan is a Byronic hero because he is rebellious, handsome, flawed, outcast, and deeply complex. Unlike traditional heroes, Byronic heroes do not always follow moral rules or behave in ways that society expects.

Rebellious Nature: A Byronic hero often goes against societal norms and rules. Don Juan fits this characteristic. Though raised by his strict mother, Donna Inez, to be virtuous and moral, Juan does not follow her expectations. Instead, he follows his emotions and desires—particularly in his relationships with women. For example, his affair with Donna Julia, a married woman, defies societal rules and morality. This shows rebellion in his character.

Handsome: Byronic heroes are usually charming and attractive. Don Juan is handsome, attractive, and adventurous. Juan’s physical attractiveness is revealed in these lines:

“Young Juan now was sixteen years of age,

Tall, handsome, slender, but well knit:”

Don Juan has an irresistible charm, especially with women. He does not try to seduce women actively. Women are drawn to him because of his innocence, good looks, and sweet nature. For example, Donna Julia falls in love with him despite being much older and married.

Not Purely Good: The Byronic hero is not purely good or dignified—rather he is a mixture of both good and evil. In respect of character, Juan is not too good. From his boyhood, he possessed some different qualities. The poet portrays him as a—

“mischief-making monkey from his birth”.

Though we find him humble, and obedient to his mother; he does not cross the limitations imposed by his mother and does not mix with other boys, but actually he is a scoundrel. He does not hesitate to do immoral deeds. We find the proof when he is found in Donna Julia’s bedroom in making love with her. When Juan is caught, Julia’s husband Alfonso wants to kill him with his sword. Don Juan manages to escape by knocking down Alfonso.

Outcast: Byronic heroes are often wanderers and outcasts who do not fully belong to one place or society. After his scandalous affair with Donna Julia, Juan is sent away from Seville. He starts a journey across Europe and beyond. As he travels, he encounters new cultures, people, and challenges. This wandering nature reflects his inability to conform to the expectations of a single society.

Not Typical Byronic Hero: Byron wrote “Don Juan” as a satire. He deliberately made Don Juan less serious and more humorous than a typical Byronic hero. While Don Juan has many traits of a Byronic hero—rebellion, charm/handsome, intelligence, and flaw—he lacks the dark, brooding nature we see in other characters like Byron’s earlier hero, Childe Harold.

In conclusion, Don Juan is a Byronic hero who is rebellious, handsome, intelligent, flawed, and adventurous. Byron made Don Juan less serious and more humorous to poke fun at human follies and society.