Byronic hero

plural Byronic heroes · plural Byronic heros

1. literatureA character type originating in the works of Lord Byron, typically characterized by introspection, arrogance, cynicism, emotional depth, and moral ambiguity; often alienated from society and at odds with conventional morality.

   Childe Harold exemplifies the Byronic hero.

   3 more examples

   That man of loneliness and mystery, Scarce seen to smile, and seldom heard to sigh; [...] He knew himself a villain—but he deem'd The rest no better than the thing he seem'd; And scorned the best as hypocrites who hid Those deeds the bolder spirit plainly did. He knew himself detested, but he knew The hearts that loath'd him, crouch'd and dreaded too. Lone, wild, and strange, he stood alike exempt From all affection and from all contempt:

   1814, Lord Byron, The Corsair, volume I, VIII, XI

   The Byronic hero, incapable of love, or capable only of an impossible love, suffers endlessly. He is solitary, languid, his condition exhausts him. If he wants to feel alive, it must be in the terrible exaltation of a brief and destructive action.

   1951, Albert Camus, The Rebel, page 46

   The Byronic Hero, on the other hand, is invariably courteous toward women, often loves music or poetry, has a strong sense of honor, and carries about with him like the brand of Cain a deep sense of guilt.

   1962, Peter L. Thorslev, Jr., The Byronic Hero: Types and Prototypes, page 8

   Synonyms: Romantic hero · Antonyms: classical hero

2. broadlyliterary tropeAn archetype of a moody, brooding, rebellious, and self-destructive antihero found across later fiction and media, marked by intelligence, passion, and alienation from social norms.

   Heathcliff, Edward Rochester, and Batman are often described as Byronic heroes.

   2 more examples

   The Byronic hero: temperamental, hedonistic and romantic. [...] After all, when Con first appears, dressed in dusty shades of purple like a retired royal, we already know he’s our Byronic hero.

   2020 October 30, Maya Phillips, “Review: ‘Touch of the Poet’ Is a Powerful Study in Toxic Pride”, in The New York Times

   Yes, the film argues that racist thinking warps your life and will ruin it, but it also presents Norton’s Derek Vinyard as a kind of Byronic hero.

   2019 September 18, Evan McGarvey, “The Cardiganed Terrorist Next Door”, in Slate

   Synonyms: antihero · Antonyms: ideal hero