Lord Byron, one of the greatest poets during the Romantic period, has a reputation because he dares to be different from his contemporaries. He is different not only in writing his poems but also in creating his heroes. While other Romanticists create divine heroes who derive from their imaginations, Byron's hero is more human, represents Byron himself, and continually exhibits the same characteristics. The hero is not a super and perfect man but he is one that can also represent tragedy. This hero is known as the Byronic Hero. In 1816 Lord Byron created a dramatic poem, Manfred. This unique poem was the first and the only dramatic poem that Byron wrote but it was not intended for the stage. It is divided into three acts. Within these Acts it is subdivided into scenes. In this drama the focus is on the dominant central character, Manfred. While other characters are subsidiary to him. The dramatic exchange between Manfred and the other characters is minimal; most of the drama is within Manfred's own mind expressed through dialogues. The main character, Manfred shows many characteristics of the Byronic Hero.
One of the characteristics of the Byronic Hero is that he is dignified. When the chamois hunter sees Manfred, he forms his opinion about Manfred:.
Who seems not of my trade, and yet hath reached.
A height which none even of our mountaineers,.
Save our best hunter, may attain: his garb.
Is goodly, his mien manly, and his air.
Proud as a free-born peasant's (I, ii, 60-4).
At the first glance, the chamois hunter believes that Manfred is a noble character expressed in lines 60-1. These lines indicate that Manfred is not just an ordinary person, comparing with the mountaineers, even the best hunters. Manfred's high appearance is beyond comparison. Besides, the hunter can see Manfred's high appearance clearly from his attractive garments, behaved manner, and elegant appearance, which cannot be possessed by ordinary people.
