How does Byron Satirize the Idea of Conventional Love and Marriage in “Don Juan, Canto 1”?

Answer

How does Lord Byron satire the idea of conventional love and marriage in “Don Juan, Canto-I”?

Or, ‘Don Juan, Canto-I’ is a social satire.—Discuss. 

Lord Byron’s (1788-1824) “Don Juan, Canto I” (1819) is a brilliant example of social satire. It humorously criticizes society, its customs, and its hypocrisies. Byron uses sharp wit, humor, and clever observations to expose flaws in love, marriage, morality, education, and human behavior. Through his storytelling and playful tone, Byron creates a lively poem that makes readers laugh. Byron’s readers also think about the absurdities of society.

Critique of Love and Marriage: One of the main targets of Byron’s satire in Canto I is marriage. He presents marriage as something that often brings unhappiness rather than love and harmony. Don Juan’s parents, Don José and Donna Inez, are a mismatched couple. Donna Inez is virtuous and intelligent, while Don José is carefree and has a wandering eye. Their constant fights reveal the problems in their relationship. Donna Inez even tries to prove that her husband is mad and wants to get rid of him. She even keeps a journal to note her husband’s faults:

“She kept a journal, where his faults were noted.”

Another unhappy marriage is between Donna Julia and Don Alfonso. Julia is much younger than Alfonso. Their marriage lacks love. Alfonso is jealous and suspicious. Julia falls in love with the young and innocent Don Juan. Byron uses these two marriages to show how love and understanding are often missing in marriages. In that society, most husbands and wives keep illicit affairs. For this reason, it becomes natural for husbands to be suspicious. As the narrator notes:

“A real husband always is suspicious.”

Satire of Morality and Hypocrisy: Byron also mocks the idea of strict morality and the hypocrisy of society. Donna Inez, who seems like a perfect and virtuous woman, is not as pure as she appears. Rumors suggest that she once had an affair with Don Alfonso. Similarly, Donna Julia tries