Essays on literary works - 2023

George Byron and the leading motifs of his work
Lord George Gordon Byron

Byronism is a socio-political, ideological and aesthetic trend that manifested itself in European literature at the beginning of the 19th century. under the influence of creativity and activities of G. Byron. Since childhood, the poet felt dissatisfaction with reality, the conflict between a dream and real life, which was characteristic of a romantic worldview. Interesting is the fact that Byron, who did not show much curiosity for philosophy, had a huge influence on the mindset of at least two generations and the formation of their worldview. Actually, he turned out to be their speaker and as a real genius, and the passionate poet showed their deep and exciting disappointment in the new social order, which was established after the stormy revolutionary era on the border of the XVIII-XIX centuries, disappointment, which acquired cosmic proportions and was called “world sorrow”. Russian critic G. Belinsky, speaking of Byron, argued: "He loved humanity, but neglected people and hated those among whom he saw himself lonely and destitute."

John Thomas Beecher is a priest from Nottinghamshire with whom the poet often met. On his advice, Byron destroyed the entire print run of his first collection of Transiences. However, in 1807, 36 poems out of 38 from that edition were included in a new collection - “Poems written for various occasions”, adding 12 more new poetry. Lines addressed to Rev. J. T. Beecher in response to his advice to the author to stand closer to the community.

Dear Beecher, you gave me wise advice:

To join the soul in human interests.

But, for me, loneliness is better, and the light Let's leave the

contemptible rake.

If a military feat will captivate me

Or a vocation is born to serve in the Senate,

I, perhaps, will be able to elevate my family

After the childish time of trial.

The flame of the mountains quietly smolders like a fire

Secretly hidden in the bowels of the smoking Etna;

But boiled lava explodes the crust,

Before it all obstacles are futile.

So the desire for glory excites me:

May my grandchildren be inspired by my whole life!

If I could, like a phoenix, fly up from the fire,

I would also accept deathly torments.

I would have despised pain, and need, and danger -

I would only live - like Fox; to die - like Chatham, A

glorious life lasts, death is not the limit to it:

Glory shines with unfading light.

Why should I get along with the secular crowd,

To grovel before its leaders,

To flatter the dudes, to admire the absurd rumor

Or to make friends with fools?

The image of Byron, his mystery and greatness has always excited the imagination of both contemporaries and descendants of the great poet. Anyone who wants to join the beautiful, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the artistic biographical works about Byron. A secular lion and a great worker, he was actively involved in sports, a favorite of women and a destroyer of reputations - Byron many-sided and complex - arises before us from these books, and the greatest wealth that a poet can share is his poetry, which is already waiting for you to give you the opportunity to touch the strings of the soul of the great poet.

Expressive reading of poetry to Byron by Marina Tsvetaeva

I think about the morning of your glory,

About the morning of your days,

When you woke up as a demon from a dream

And a god for people.

I think about how your eyebrows

Converged over the torches of your eyes,

About how the lava of ancient blood

spilled through your veins.

I think of fingers, very long,

In wavy hair,

And of all - in the alleys and in the living rooms -

the eyes of you thirsty.

And about the hearts that - too young -

you did not have time to read,

In those days when the moons rose

And went out in your honor.

I think of the semi-dark hall,

Of the velvet inclined to lace,

Of all the verses that you would say

- to me, I - to you.

I still think about the handful of dust

Left from your lips and eyes...

About all the eyes that are in the grave.

About them and us.

In sincere friendship, I believed so holiday, immensely,

In love, I experienced both bitterness and comfort,

But I convinced: friendship is mostly unfaithful,

And my love was destroyed by jokes and laughter.

What is wealth to me? It will disappear unexpectedly

Whether at the behest of a tyrant, or from a whim of fate.

What's the title for me? This is only a delusion of the authorities ... I

only want famous glory for myself!