Essays on literary works - 2023
Features of the poetic world of Byron (According to the works of George Gordon Byron “Prometheus” and “Belshazzar's vision”)
Lord George Gordon Byron
Byron is one of the most famous representatives of the romantic movement in the poetry of the 19th century. The life of this extraordinary person is, as it were, an interlinear to his work, poetry. If a noble Englishman, a lord, however, from an impoverished family, dies in a foreign land, tired of fighting for the happiness of a foreign people, this already means something.
Despite the fact that Byron is considered a typical representative of the romantic trend in Western European literature, his poems differ markedly from, say, the poetry of his countryman Southey or the Frenchman Hugo. The romantic hero of Byron does not run away from life's troubles, but enters the fight against a hostile world. Yes, the poet chose for himself heroes who entered into confrontation - one on one - with the whole world.
In the poem "Prometheus" Byron refers to the famous mythological character - the titan Prometeur. The hero was banished by the gods for disobedience. The poet describes the titan as a fighter for the happiness of people: The
darkness of alienation, disobedience,
Confrontation between misfortune and evil,
When, strong by himself alone,
He will give battle to all black forces.
Prometheus received a terrible punishment for his generous act. Byron enthusiastically notes that Prometheus showed his own will, despising the instructions of the gods, for which he was doomed to torment.
Byron's Zeus the Thunderer acts as an almost blind and angry force, capable of strangling everything free and living. Let Prometheus be punished with severe torment, but humanity does not forget about the one who gave fire to people, taught crafts and writing. According to Byron, every conscious person should follow the example set by Prometheus in ancient times, the "proud spirit" and whose disobedience was not broken by evil.
Another important feature of Byron's poetic worldview is a sincere hatred of tyrants and oppressors of all stripes. In Belshazzar's Vision, Byron retells the biblical legend of the last Babylonian king, the terrible and cruel Belshazzar, using poetic language. During a feast on the magnificent wall of the palace, an invisible hand draws mysterious and ominous writing. The frightened king orders to explain the secret of these words, but neither the magicians nor the priests are able to do this. And only a stranger solves a sinister secret: "a grave, not a throne" awaits Belshazzar, and Babylon will perish.
"Belshazzar's vision" can be considered a warning to all rulers who have forgotten honor, conscience and God. By the way, the same theme sounds in the famous Russian revolutionary song "Let the despot feast in a luxurious palace."
A special, unlike any other genius - this can be said about Byron. This is a genius who never found a common language with society. When enlightened Europe read the poetry of the rebellious lord, the ashes of Byron, who died of illness in a foreign land, were buried in a small church near Newstead in his family estate. Byron took place as one of the leading figures in European literature, but in life he was lonely and not too happy.