Heroes are some of the most popular protagonists in storytelling – and there are a lot of types of heroes to use; a byronic hero being one such example. But what is a byronic hero? We’re going to outline a byronic hero definition then break down a variety of byronic hero examples in literature and film. By the end, you’ll know what a byronic hero is and how to use it in writing.
Byronic Hero Characteristics
Exploring the byronic hero meaning
You may not have known it at the time, but you’ve likely come across a byronic hero in a piece of literature, television show, movie, or video game. Byronic heroes are fairly common character types in modern stories. In fact, they fit in quite well with the rise of the anti-hero trope. However, byronic heroes and anti-heroes are not the same; whereas the latter are defined by dissent from the social order, the former very much operate within it, even if from the outskirts. Anti-heroes typically go past “a point of no return” whereas byronic heroes stick to a socially-accepted moral code.
Think Walter White vs. Batman for example; White goes past the point of no return to become Heisenburg (a man who operates beyond the limit of the socially accepted moral code), while Batman stays within it, sticking to his compass to never kill.
This next video does a great job of breaking down the byronic hero meaning, from the 18th-century to modern day.
What is a Byronic Hero? • The Byronic Hero Explained by It’s Lit
Byronic heroes clearly have a deep and important history in storytelling… but before we get into some examples, let’s formally outline a byronic hero definition.
BYRONIC HERO DEFINITION
What is a byronic hero?
A byronic hero is a romantic hero who is rooted in the tradition of flawed protagonists made famous by the English writer Lord Byron. Byronic heroes typically present as cocky but are actually beset by a deep, internalized problem; byronic heroes are defined by juxtapositional elements of external appearance and internal conflict, thus making them somewhat tricky to predict.
Byronic Hero Characteristics:
- Faux-confidence
- Internal doubt
- Periods of gloom
- Violent tendencies
- Difficulty fitting in
- Sensual and attractive
Best Byronic Heroes
Famous byronic hero characters
There are a lot of byronic hero characters in books, shows, movies, and games, but to properly understand the term, we must first analyze the man himself. It is not absurd to suggest that Lord Byron himself was the first byronic hero; Byron, a moody, tempestuous man, held high social status, yet balked at its value, was a great romantic who attracted a wide array of partners, yet had none who ever stuck, was a man of great ideals, yet he died before he saw many of them through.
What is a Byronic Hero? • The Romantic Figure Depicted in Wanderer above the Sea of Fog
Byron – or perhaps the myth of Byron – was a romantic figure who pursued the life of a hero despite being beset with troubling internal conflict. In fact, Lady Caroline Lamb, famously described Byron as “mad, bad, and dangerous to know” after having an affair with him.
Still, there’s no denying that Byron, and the byronic heroes who would follow, were attractive figures. So, let’s break down some byronic hero examples.
Edward Rochester from Jane Eyre
The 1847 Charlotte Brontë novel Jane Eyre features an iconic (and widely-cited) byronic hero in Edward Rochester. Here is a description of Rochester:
“His figure was enveloped in a riding-cloak…but I traced the general points of middle height, and considerable breadth of chest. He had a dark face, with stern features and a heavy brow…He was past youth, but had not reached middle age; perhaps he might be thirty-five. I felt no fear of him…Had he been a handsome, heroic-looking young gentleman, I should not have dared to stand thus questioning him against his will, and offering my services unasked.”
In this passage, Brontë gives the reader a good idea of Rochester’s physical characteristics and how they affect the narrator. We can see Brontë building Rochester as a byronic hero through simple imagery and tone.
Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto
Sasuke – aside from being one of the most popular characters in anime history – is a great example of a byronic hero. Gloomy and moody? Check. Fawned over by females? Check. Motivated by a romantic, personal pursuit of justice? Check.
What is a Byronic Hero? • Byronic Hero Traits in Sasuke Uchiha
Now, without spoiling things… Sasuke gets dangerously close to pushing things “beyond the point of no return,” which would make him more of an anti-hero than a byronic hero. But ultimately, his story of hero turned villain turned hero again is a great study in byronic heroism.
Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher
Is it possible for one to be as brooding as Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher franchise? The butcher of Blaviken is perhaps more coveted in the bedroom than he is feared by enemies… which is certainly saying something.
What is a Byronic Hero? • Byronic Hero Traits in Geralt of Rivia
Still, he’s a very sensitive guy. Geralt wants to protect the people he cares about, even when it seems his efforts are futile; of course, the coin is a considerable draw as well. Geralt of Rivia is not a purely beneficent character, if he was, he wouldn’t be a byronic hero. Instead, he’s motivated by self-interest and noble goals, often trying to fulfill both from the outskirts of society.
Up Next
What is a Tragic Hero?
We may have answered the question “what is a byronic hero?” but there are plenty more hero types to learn. In our next article, we’ll explain what a tragic hero is, with examples from The Great Gatsby, Macbeth, and more. By the end, you’ll know what a tragic hero is and how to utilize it in your own stories.
