George Gordon Byron Essay

Life a is divided into three stages. The first – before the appearance of the poem Childe-Harold’s Pilgrimage (1788 – 1812) – is characterized by a whole string of disappointments: the main of these was the awareness of innate lameness; others brought school, first love, entry into the literary field, complexities in dealing with others … The second stage was marked by the glittering glory that came after the publication of Childe-Harold’s Pilgrimage, and the subsequent persecution after breaking up with his wife and society12 (18). 1816). Leaving England and recovering from the hardships he endured, Byron first took part in the Italian Revolution, and then in the uprising in Greece, it was there, in the midst of events, that he died. This is the period of greatness of Byron – poet and man (18! 6 – 1824).

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George Gordon Byron was born in London on January 22, 1788, in circumstances not the most favorable: his mother, shortly after the birth of her son abandoned by a wretched husband, experienced the “shame of bitter poverty” – she came from an ancient Scottish kings and inherited a rich fortune boy.

To promote health, her mother brought a 10-year-old Byron to Scotland, where her ancestral estate was and where the sea was noisy. He made friends with the sea, “leading a child’s hand on the mane of the ocean,” as he wrote afterwards. In need of funds, the mother rented the castle and settled with her son in a small town, contented with a modest, semi-urban existence.

The years of teaching at the aristocratic school for the young Lord Byron were marred by the consciousness of his poverty, loneliness and lameness, compounded by the charlatan’s “cure.” Subsequently, this disadvantage did not prevent him from becoming a good boxer, a great rider and an excellent swimmer.

Suffering from adversity and injustice, the boy was able to develop a heightened sense of responsibility and truth. He sought to patronize the weak and protect the offended. A highly active personality, Byron felt strongly about a turning point and regretted that he was born too late and did not take part in the revolutionary battles of the late 1911s. At the same time, he was very proud of the inherited title of Lord, which was sometimes more expensive than literary fame for him.

“Lord Byron is a young man with rabid passions, he needs silk reins,” the school principal said. And it is true that school attachments acquired the character of passionate love. For thirteen years, he has written the first poem, “At Margarita Parker’s Tomb,” in memory of a girl he loved. By Harrow’s time, Byron’s strongest passion was Mary Chavort. The beautiful girl rejected him. And this heart wound was not healed by any success in the field of love. He conveyed his feelings for Mary Byron throughout his life:
I love the name Mary. A lot of dreams

And a whole series of unfulfilled dreams
In my soul with that name merged …

It’s still nice to me …

According to the poet, the happy outcome of his love for Mary could give a completely different direction to his life. However, there was also a positive moment in this situation – the birth of the first collection of poems, Leisure Hours (1807). Although the society at the time did not appreciate it and even criticized it – for the full title of the author on the cover, for the mention of many female names, for imposing on the public the image of a dojuan and a heartthrob – the conclusion made by Byron’s ridiculous mockery was the opposite of the impression. If the collection had been successful, Byron, he said, might have left poetry forever. But now he has decided to prove to everyone that he is a poet.

By the tradition of the Peers of England, noisily celebrating his age, Byron decided to take a seat in the House of Lords.

Following the same tradition, in the summer of 1809 he set out on a long journey across the continent. For two years he traveled to Spain and Portugal, the Mediterranean islands, Albania, Greece and Turkey, and Asia Minor. The return was forced – the funds ran out – and sad: he buried his mother, two friends and his beloved woman. Loneliness, sadness, the consciousness of the futility of existence – this is the result of his two-year journey. But – not the main one! He did not know what treasure he had brought with him – these were his travel sketches.

On the advice of a friend, he processed these sketches and published. Thus appeared the first two songs of the poem Childe-Harold’s Pilgrimage. But even before their publication, Byron became famous as a speaker: he defended in the House of Lords the Luddite workers who had broken the machines, and his speech was a success, though it did not reach its goal. These two rays lit his star – and one morning Byron woke up famous.

The success of the poet in society was promoted not only by the halo of glory, but also by the charm of personality: a mysterious stranger who spent two years in exotic countries, a brilliant lord, a handsome man, he attracts the attention of both men and women. Byron enters the literary circle, where he is welcomed

Walter Scott, Moore, Sheridan (it should be noted that many of them were unfairly hurt by his satire).

Still maintaining his independence from the opinion of society, always speaking frankly, Byron, with his critical, satire-minded mindset and audacious demeanor, was able to make many enemies in the world. They were only waiting for the moment – and the case soon turned.

His marriage was unsuccessful. The wife – Anabella Milbank – did not share the poet’s interests. Being educated and even writing poetry, she was completely alien to Byron’s free-spirited poetry, annoyed by his proud, impatient and fervent temper. A month after the birth of her daughter

Ada she, having taken away the child, returned to the parental home. Becoming involved with psychiatrists, Anabella tried to help them declare Byron insane. When that failed, she filed for divorce.

The spouse’s separation act, drawn up after Lady Byron rejected all her husband’s requests and protests, seemed to draw a scandalous situation. But it was only with Byron that it could happen that the family mess had grown into a social drama. Those who could not forgive the poet of the independence of the spirit, the free-thinking, the satirical epigrams and the rebellious spirit of his poems, set in motion all means to bring the bills with him. By the joint efforts of the creditors, Byron’s property was described. The newspapers were full of mocking notes and caricatures. Its appearance in society became impossible – insults, mockery, and sometimes stones poured down after it.

In April 1816, saying goodbye to his sister Augustus, the only one remaining faithful to him until the end, Lord Byron left England. As it turned out, forever.

In Italy, the poet found what he lacked in his homeland – the possibility of active participation in the liberation struggle of the people. And this, in turn, served as a powerful source of inspiration for his creativity. Byron resumes work on the poem Childe-Harold’s Pilgrimage. Here, in Italy, he ends the dramatic poem Manfred. Writes “Don Juan” … From the exotic singer of the East Byron becomes a poet-thinker, philosopher. He learns from his own experience, how fragile, everything that a person strives for – happiness, glory, power …

Having humbled pride in the great sorrow of the ruins of Rome, he no longer wants revenge for grievances – this is a matter; “Time. His worldly sorrow was cleansed of personal, private and accepted sublime shade. Meeting with another English exile – poet Shelley and his sister, Jen Clermont Jen’s new love for her and her responsive feeling inspire new strength and hope …

The love of Jen Clermont (she gave birth to his daughter Allegro) was new, but not the last … His passion for Italy was heightened by his passion for the beautiful Countess Teresa Gvichioli. Married to a 60-year-old old man, the young Countess, seeing Byron, realized that he was her fate. And the poet gave her her life, soul, love. Teresa’s brother, Pietro Gamba, a carbonarium, was an ardent admirer of the poet. Byron joined the liberation movement, fascinated by the ideas of the Carbonari. However, he was not satisfied with the sluggishness and inconsistency of the revolutionaries. The uprising in Greece at this time predetermined his further path – he rushes for help.

Becoming at the head of the rebels, he showed non-dozen military talents – coordinated actions, led negotiations, made plans. Its headquarters were in the swampy area of ​​Missolunga. The hardships and hardships of camp life undermined Byron’s health. He became ill with fever and died on April 19, 1824. His death words were about Greece: “I gave her my time, my means, my health. Could I have done more? Now I give her life. ”

Don Juan’s demonic laughter, laughing not to cry, came to an abrupt end … The poem remained unfinished. And hardly Byron could put a point in it. In spirit, it is endless. And eternal, as all creativity of the poet – that time has proved.