Byronic Heroism in Child Harold’s Pilgrimage and Prometheus Unbound

In his bestseller Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Lord Byron created the Byronic hero as a type of character. Also known as a satanic hero, Byron stumbled upon the type of character who often has a struggle with morality. Despite typically making immoral decisions, the hero is able to earn sympathy from readers. Childe Harold becomes the first Byronic hero, clearly gaining compassion from readers, despite his arrogance.  In Prometheus Unbound, Percy Bysshe Shelley also uses this technique with his character Prometheus. While both evoking sympathy from readers and displaying many of the same characteristics of a Byronic hero, these characters also contain stark differences in their personalities.

Childe Harold exemplifies the satanic hero by managing to earn the sympathy of readers despite his substantial flaws. Childe Harold’s fault is his is his pride. He is arrogant and convinced he is superior to others to such an extent that he finds it difficult to coexist among others. Childe Harold lives a life “in desolation; which could find/ A life within itself, to breathe without mankind” (Canto 3.12). This exemplifies how despite wanting to dislike him, readers feel sympathy that he lives a life of isolation. He often ventures to nature, where he can find solitude from humans. This amount of arrogance makes readers dislike Childe Harold for feeling that he is superior to all people. However, characteristic of a Byronic hero, Childe Harold is able to overcome this. By characterizing Childe Harold as a “wild-born falcon with clipt wing,/ To whom the boundless air alone were home” he gains the sympathy of readers (Canto 3.15). Readers feel sorry once the imagery of a helpless bird has been utilized. Also, this image takes blame away from Childe Harold and makes it appear as if his pride is uncontrollable. By shedding this sympathetic light on him Byron transforms Childe Harold into a protagonist, despite his arrogant actions.

            Unlike Childe Harold, Prometheus’s flaw lies in his rage. Unlike Childe Harold He does not consider other humans hopeless, but rather feels that they can overcome; he considers himself to be the character at fault. His misfortunes throughout the poem occur because he has cursed Jupiter. He describes himself as living “eyeless in hate” with “scorn and despair” and his empires (I). This unrelenting rage seems characteristic of an antagonist, however Prometheus manages to make readers feel for him. He does so by carrying a hope that humanity can coexist peacefully and evil can be overruled. He emphasizes that “ Fate, Time, Occasion, Chance, and Change. To all of these/ All things are subject but eternal Love” (II.). Such a heartwarming declaration entices readers to hope that Prometheus may be good. Additionally, Prometheus admits that  “words are quick and vain;/ Grief for awhile is blind, and so was mine” (I.). This repentance makes readers sympathize with him. Having acknowledged his flaw, readers can view Prometheus as a Byronic hero.

            Clearly, Prometheus and  Childe Harold both exemplify the Byronic hero, although they do so in different ways. They both have obvious flaws, yet Byron and Shelley overcome these flaws to make their characters likeable by readers. In this respect, they are similar characters. Despite having completely different value systems, they characters are satanic heroes. In the opening of both works, readers are introduced to two characters who seem immoral and more like villains than heroes. Byron introduces readers to Childe Harold by saying that “Few earthly things found favour in his sight/ Save concubines and carnal companie,/ And flaunting wassailers of high and low degree” (Canto 1.2). These immoral actions hardly resemble a hero, similar to those of  Prometheus. Readers are introduced to a character, who in anger, utters a curse so horrible it is not to be repeated. Also, both characters manage to overcome this, qualifying them both as satanic heroes.

             Despite their many differences, both Prometheus and Childe Harold exemplify the Byronic hero. Their ability to appear immoral, yet attract the sympathy of readers is apparent. However, both characters do so differently. Childe Harold is arrogant and views himself as superior to the world. Still, he manages to earn compassion by describing his struggles in his isolation. On the other hand, Prometheus considers humanity above himself. He is ashamed that he has allowed his actions to be controlled by his rage. Despite this, he still has hope for the rest of mankind, which allows readers to forgive his actions. In terms of their views of humanity, these characters are virtually complete opposites. However, both characters can considered satanic heroes.