Beyond hero and villain : Milton's portrayal of satan and Byron's problematic protagonists

Abstract

The primary aim of this paper is to analyse Milton's Satan and the Byronic Hero, both of whom place the reader in a moral dilemma. Satan in Paradise Lost, though evil, attracts the reader who in turn is able to sympathise with the demon and his struggles; similarly, the heroes in Lord Byron's poetry, particularly in his metaphysical dramas and oriental tales, are riddled with guilt over a crime which may or may not be made explicit, and yet Byron's contemporaries, still admired these characters in some respects. How can one feel sympathy for the devil? Through a humanist reading of Milton's epic, the present researcher discusses the Archfiend with regard to both his heroic qualities, and his villainous characteristics: Milton gave Satan motivation, making him more empathetic. During the Romantic period, poets were fascinated by characters that problematised social conventions, and the Byronic hero is often said to find his ancestor in the antagonist of Omnipotence in Paradise Lost. Some general comments are made upon Milton's profound influence on Byron, with references to the latter's poetry, as well as his conversations, journals, and letters. The titular characters of Lord Byron's poetical dramas, Manfred and Cain: A Mystery, are then considered, the latter of which, with its querying of God's benevolence, is discussed in particular detail due to its more obvious relation to Paradise Lost. It is understood that the characters examined in this dissertation cannot be placed in either category of 'good' or 'bad', and techniques employed by the poets, as well as traits belonging to the character, such as ambition, loyalty, and passion, heighten the sense of pathos, allowing these guilty characters to enlist the reader's sympathy and admiration.