“No, I’m not Byron, I’m different ...”, wrote our equally famous and equally talented poet, our compatriot Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. And what is this mysterious Byron? What did he write, and about what? Are his works understandable and relevant now, when completely different trends, different from the romantic trends of the first half of the nineteenth century, are observed in literature? Let’s try to answer this question by examining one of George Byron’s most famous works, Manfred.
About the life of the great Byron
George Gordron Byron - the Lord of the English court, the national hero of Greece ... But most importantly - one of the greatest poets of the romantic era, and of all world literature. The creator of such literary masterpieces as the novel in poems Don Giovanni, poems Manfred, Pilgrimage of Childe Harold, Mazepa, various collections and cycles of poems. He did not just write in the spirit of romanticism, Byron lived as befits a romantic hero of the works of that time. Born in a noble but poor family. He studied poorly, but made a brilliant career. Already in his student years (he studied at Cambridge University) Byron released his first collection of poems "Leisure time", which was severely criticized. In response to negative reviews, the poet wrote a satirical poem, thanks to which everyone recognized his talent. After there were the “Pilgrimage of Child-Harold”, “Manfred” ... Byron worked extremely fruitfully and successfully. At the same time managed to travel a lot and a lot ... love. There are legends about the novels of the writer, moreover, the truth can be difficult to distinguish from fiction. It is reliably known that he was married and married for love, however, at the initiative of Anna's wife, nee Milbenk, the couple was forced to divorce. This did not break the poet’s warm heart, after which he was more than once happy with women, continued to write, traveled to different countries. The last of these was Greece, for independence from the Turks of which he fought along with the Greeks themselves - there he fell ill with a fever and died. Byron was 36 years old. The body of the poet was buried in a crypt in the county of Nottinghamshire.
The story of the creation of the poem "Manfred"
Byron wrote this work, being impressed by the trip to Switzerland, which took place in 1816, almost immediately after the scandalous breakup with his wife. The poet often climbed the Alps during this journey and was inspired by the mysterious and majestic nature of these places.
In 1817, the "metaphysical drama", as the author himself outlined the genre of the work, was published. It is worth noting that many events from the personal life of the author were reflected in the poem, so it can be partially called autobiographical.
A few words about the work
It is interesting that Byron’s poem Manfred was published at about the same time as Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, or Modern Prometheus. But the authors of both works were close friends. What is interesting here? Those who read both of these must have noted some similarities between the two masterpieces. Both of them are created in the spirit of a Gothic novel, both are filled with gloom and pessimism. And both became discoveries in literature: if Frankenstein made the famous Mary Shelley, then Manfred opened a new facet in Byron's talent - here he proved himself to be an outstanding playwright.
Summary
“Manfred” Byron is often compared with Gotevsky “Faust”. And they have every right to do so - both dramas in poetry raise deep, philosophical problems, the heroes of these great works seek answers to the most complex, fundamental questions of life. In addition, there is a mystical element in Faust and Manfred. But not only the concept, but also the structure of these dramas is largely the same.
The work begins with the fact that the hero sums up his life, recalls the past, and it does not please him in the least. Manfred has achieved everything, but does not see any benefit in this. The only thing left to open is oblivion. In his search, the magician wanders through the mountains, turns to spirits, meets other heroes (suicide hunter, fairy), but no one can help him.
In the final, the abbot comes to the castle of the warlock, who wants to cleanse the evil wizard of corruption, seeks to heal his soul, but he does not succeed. Manfred dies, remaining faithful to his black pessimism.
Superman idea
When analyzing Manfred, Byron cannot be ignored by the main character - the magician and sorcerer, omnipotent Manfred, in which the idea of the superman, while the superman is suffering, is clearly realized. He is at the peak of knowledge, he has a special power, can command the elements, nature itself obeys him, to say nothing of insignificant people. However, Manfred is desperate - despite all his greatness, he cannot find himself, understand his destiny. The hero seeks oblivion, but nothing and no one can give him. He concludes that knowledge is by no means salvation, but the greatest evil that dooms man to perdition.
But Byron in Manfred did not portray such an abstract hero-thinker as it might seem. In many ways, this character is comparable to Napoleon. The titanic image of the “villain cast to dust” from the song of fate according to the text of the work correlates with the main character, and, if you go beyond the scope of the poem, then Napoleon’s features are clearly guessed in it. In addition, Manfred and Napoleon are the bearers of the idea, worldview of each of its era (Manfred lives approximately between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries).
From century past to century
Are there really no such "Manfreds" - the great, omnipotent, those who commit certain acts, and then repent of them, burn with shame, seek solace, try to forget themselves? Each of us lives its own "Manfred", always doubting, disappointed, doomed to suffering. And only we decide what his fate will be. Byronovsky - ended in tragedy. What to do with your personal Manfred? Maybe after reading the poem, you will answer this question for yourself.