Don Juan As Byron Introspective Essay example -- essays research paper

The works of George Gordon, original Byron have long been controversial, nearly as controversial as his lifestyle. Gordon Byron was born(p) with a clubfoot and his sensitivity to it haunted his life and his works. Despite being a very handsome child, a fragile self-esteem made Byron extremely sensitive to criticism, of himself or of his poetry and he tended to make enemies rather quickly. The young Byron was often unhappy and lonely any many of his works seem to be a sort of introspective therapy. Throughout his writings and life history there is much evidence to suggest that his poetry was greatly influenced by his amiable instability. In many ways, Byron seems to use his work as an escape from a difficult reality. The lengthy metrical composition Don Juan offers an especially intimate glimpse of Byrons psyche.In order to understand the depth of Byrons psychological troubles and their influence on his poetry, it is important to examine Byrons heritage and his upbringing. Young George Gordon inherited the title of Lord Byron at the age of six. This him a rank in society and a bit of wealth to go along with it. Byrons heritage is a ablaze one. His paternal line includes the Wicked Lord, "Mad Jack and Foul Weather Jack (Grosskurth 6). The family propensity for eccentric behavior was acerbated by young George Gordons upbringing.When Byron was just three his financially irresponsible father died, leaving the family with a heavy burden of debt. Byrons mother then proudly moved from the scarce lodging in Aberdeen, Scotland to England. Young Byron fell in love with the ghostly halls and spacious grounds of Newstead Abbey, which had been presented to the Byrons by Henry VIII, had received little look at since. He and his mother lived in the run down estate for a while. While in England he was sent to a public school in Nottingham where he was doctored by a quack named Lavender who subjected the boy to a torturous and ineffective treatment for his clubfoot (Bloom 45). During this time, young Byron was left in the care of his nurse May Grey. He was subjected to her drunken tantrums, beatings, neglect, and sexual liberties (Grosskurth 28). This abuse was not stopped early enough to protect the boy from psychological injury. Byron confesses to his sister that My passions were veritable very early- so early that few would believe me (Grosskurth 40). Byron also suffered... .... Even the naivet of young Juan is strikingly similar to the shy young George Gordon.In Don Juan, Byron says I deficiency a hero and he adopts a one from the past. He alters the legend of Don Juan to fit his own needs because he cannot find a current hero that fits the bill. Don Juans character a direct personification of the poet who has grown older and wiser that his young subject. The author is reflected instead in the many elaborate of the epic drawn from the authors own experiences. Although Don Juans narrator is not purely Byrons voice, it does seem to spe ak for him. The poet expresses himself through his interlingual rendition of the story and by using the voice of the narrator to speak for him. Byrons narrator is always present in the poem, commenting and showing off, making quite indisputable that the he is not being ignored. His voice permeates Don Juan and he appears to be reflecting much of his own life in his creation. Perhaps Byron used this enormous poem as a catharsis for his trouble emotions perhaps this is the reason that Don Juan was never finished. It was extended throughout the remainder of the poets life. The poem, like Byrons psychological healing was never finished.