Lord Byron´s Manfred

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In Lord Byron’s Manfred (1816-1817), a haunting, supernatural story releases as a confession as Byron implies his incestuous affair with his half-sister, Augusta and wanting to find salvation. Byron influenced by his own failed marriage with Annabelle and the flood of rumors that were flaring, fled to Switzerland. During a tour in the Bernese Alps, Byron expressed his anguish in writing Manfred. Manfred, miserably tormented by guilt, summons seven spirits but in return are unable to grant his plea in changing his past life events. In despair, Manfred attempts suicide fails again as a chamois hunter saves him. Manfred call upon a witch and other forces yet unwilling to submit to good or evil forces. At the final scene, Manfred accompanied by the Abbot, still refusing his hand shortly dies. Manfred unwilling to succumb to higher powers ultimately he controls his fate just as he does not allow himself to forgive.

While the Abbot comes to bring salvation, Manfred indignantly contends that religion can mend his wrongdoings. To receive God’s forgiveness a true confession of freely admitting regret showing defiance against God, which Manfred doesn’t complete in speaking with the Abbot. The Abbot comforts in instilling hope with prayer which Manfred denies,

There is no power in holy men,

Nor charm in prayer, nor purifying form

Of penitence, nor outward look, nor fast,

Nor agony – nor, greater than these,

The innate tortures of that deep despair

Which is remorse without the fear of hell

…Of its own sins, wron...

... middle of paper ...

...h Astarte. He dies with that pain that reminds him of her the only element he has left of her. His connection with her was overwhelmingly strong not just as his lover but his sister. Forgiving himself would relieve his resentment toward himself and pardoning his feeling of holding himself accountable, which he does not only letting him to damage himself by defining himself with that pain.

Manfred consumed by guilt seeking for answer refuses help from external forces ultimately leaving his fate to himself. Manfred’s life concluded with him in independence not repenting his sin likewise not entering heaven in obedience of God nor submitting to evil with Satan in hell. Manfred reluctant to withdraw from Astarte remains blame himself as it leaves an essence of her on him.

Work Cited

Byron, George Gordon, Lord. . Manfred: A Dramatic Poem. London: Murray, 1817.

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