Essays on literary works - 2024

The Poetic World of Byron: A Study of “Prometheus” and “The Vision of Belshazzar”

Byron, one of the most renowned figures of the Romantic movement in 19th-century poetry, led a life that was as dramatic as his verses. The fact that a noble English lord, albeit from a diminished family, should perish in a foreign land, worn out by the struggle for the happiness of another people, speaks volumes about the man and his art.

While often categorized as a quintessential Romantic poet, Byron's works exhibit distinct qualities that set them apart from those of his contemporaries, such as Southey or Hugo. His Romantic hero does not shy away from life's adversities but confronts them head-on, engaging in a solitary struggle against a hostile world.

In "Prometheus," Byron turns to the iconic mythological figure of the Titan, who was exiled by the gods for his defiance. The poet portrays Prometheus as a champion of human happiness:

Bound by gloom, unwavering in his strife, Against misfortune and the ills of life, Alone, he'll face and conquer every foe.

For his noble act, Prometheus suffers a terrible fate. Byron celebrates the Titan's defiance of the gods, his assertion of individual will, which condemns him to eternal torment.

Zeus, the thunderer, is depicted as a nearly blind and wrathful force, capable of stifling all that is free and vital. Though Prometheus is punished severely, humanity remembers the one who gave them fire, taught them crafts, and introduced them to writing. According to Byron, every conscious individual should follow the example set by Prometheus, whose "proud spirit" and indomitable defiance could not be broken by evil.

Another defining characteristic of Byron's poetic worldview is his fervent hatred of tyrants and oppressors. In "The Vision of Belshazzar," Byron retells the biblical tale of the last Babylonian king, the cruel and wicked Belshazzar. During a lavish feast, a mysterious hand inscribes ominous words on the palace wall. Terrified, the king seeks to decipher the cryptic message, but neither the wise men nor the priests can provide an explanation. Only a stranger reveals the dire prophecy: "Your grave, not throne, awaits" Belshazzar, and Babylon is doomed.

"The Vision of Belshazzar" serves as a warning to all rulers who have forgotten honor, conscience, and God. This theme resonates with the famous Russian revolutionary song, "Let the Despot Feast in His Sumptuous Hall."

Byron was a singular genius, unlike any other. A man out of step with his time, he found little common ground with society. While enlightened Europe devoured the poetry of the rebellious lord, Byron's mortal remains were laid to rest in a small church near Newstead, his ancestral home. He achieved renown as one of the leading figures of European literature, yet in life, he was a solitary and often unhappy soul.