Concetti Chiave
- The Romantic hero is characterized by a complex personality full of contradictions, striving for infinity while recognizing human limitations.
- This hero is often proud, independent, melancholic, and drawn to wild nature, valuing loneliness and feeling distinct from others.
- Historical and literary figures like Napoleon and Lord Byron exemplify the Romantic hero, embodying ideals such as individual freedom and the "Byronic hero" myth.
- Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's novel is a Romantic hero, seeking to transcend human limits through scientific means despite ethical concerns.
- Characters like Werther and Jacopo Ortis illustrate the Romantic hero's inner turmoil, leading to tragic ends due to societal conflict and personal despair.
The Romantic hero
The Romantics gave special importance to the individual and his feelings.
•The Romantic hero’s personality is complex and full of contradictions: he can’t help searching for infinity although he’s aware he cannot go beyond human limits.
The Romantic hero was proud, independent, melancholy, attracted by wild nature; he considered himself different from other men and loved loneliness.
You can find a few Romantic heros in European history and literature:
-Napoleon was celebrated as a Romantic hero, since he seemed to always desire highest things and he wanted to spread all over Europe the ideals of the French Revolution, for example individual freedom.
-Lord Byron embodied the Romantic hero; in particular, he created the myth of the "Byronic hero".
-Frankenstein, the main character in Mary Shelley's novel, may be considered as a Romantic hero because he wants to go beyond human limits despite being aware of his scientific crime, which consists in creating a human being by assembling parts from corpses and infusing electricity.
-Werther, the protagonist in “The Sorrows of Young Werther” by Goete is a young man who doesn’t accept the hypocrisy of his society and finally commits suicide.
-Foscolo drew inspiration from Goethe's novel to write “Le Ultime Lettere di Jacopo Ortis”, whose protagonist, Jacopo Ortis, is a young man who is led to suicide by love and political disappointment.
Accedi a tutti gli appunti
Tutor AI: studia meglio e in meno tempo
