The Byronic Hero: Independence, Comradeship and Community

The Byronic Hero is a Romantic byword for gloomy isolation, alienation, introspection and aloofness and these features have been well documented. However, some of Byron’s tales and drama which include Byronic Heroes – such as The Bride of Abydos , The Corsair , Marino Faliero and The Island – feature a notable amount of human interaction, which has largely been ignored by critics. This essay looks at the ways in which feelings of independence are often set against and defined by the social ties that bind Byron’s heroes to groups and individuals. Specifically, the essay examines Byron’s fascination with, and critique of, comradeship and the thrill of masculine bonds that are forged in adversity. It argues that focusing on comradeship enables us to see more clearly the part Byron plays in complicating the relationship between independence, dependence and manliness.