User:Mr.Rawlings

History
The Byronic Hero originated from the name of Lord Byron who himself created this new type of hero with influences from his own characteristics. The Byronic hero first appears in Lord Byron’s semi-autobiographical narrative poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage in between year 1812-18. Lord Byron in those times was considered to be the first modern-style celebrity due to his luxuriously extreme personalities and lifestyle: upper-class living, numerous love affairs, separations and debts.

The spawn of Byronic Hero had influences many authors and artists of the Romantic Movement and the Gothic Writers in the 19th century to use the Byronic Hero as the model of their characters: •	“The Vampyre” by Polidori (Byron’s personal physician) •	Erik/ The Phantom from “Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux •	Claude Frollo from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo

Characteristics
•	Does not possesses “heroic virtue” the usual sense, possesses many dark qualities •	Considered a rebel, exile, an outcast or an outlaw. Can both voluntarily and forcefully disconnect from society •	High level of intelligence and perception •	Conflicting emotions or moodiness •	Distaste for social norms •	Lack of respect for rank and privilege •	Have a tragic past, guilty memories •	Cynical, demanding and/or arrogant •	Self-destructive, and in some case can be destructive to other characters •	Cunning and able to adapt quickly •	Sophisticated and educated, manipulative to others due to high understandings of human nature •	Mysterious, exotic and magnetic •	Possess the power of seduction and sexual attraction •	Social and Sexual dominance •	Often have no respect for women, only sees them as the tool of their happiness, however female characters can use to reveal the Byronic Hero’s true nature.

Examples of a Byronic Hero in the popular culture
•	“The Phantom” from the “Phantom of the Opera” •	“Alfie” from Alfie •	“Hannibal Lector” from “Hannibal” •	“Tyler Durden” from “Fight Club” •	“Captain Jack Sparrow” from “The Pirates of the Caribbean” •	“V” from “V for Vendetta”