The vampire myth has been part of human culture throughout recorded history. It has existed in different forms all over the world, predating ancient Egypt and continuing through to modern times. These legends have been incorporated into the lives of many humans and the main idea that comes from all of the stories remains similar to this, a creature that absorbs the life of another into itself through their blood. It is said that Lord Byron was one of the first authors to write about this creature, which has inspired the modern day vampire. During the Romantic period, a side-genre was produced and labeled gothic literature. It often explores the tormented condition of a creature between the extremes of faith and doubt, being and insignificance, love and hate- and suffering by an unknown guilt for some crime it cannot remember having committed. Such a description recalls the Byronic hero, a charming, seductive, privileged character with a devilish narcissism and desire to control. Coming from the Romantic roots was Dracula, which like many other characters, is directly linked with the Byronic hero.
During the Romanticism era Lord Byron wrote a gothic novel that was extremely popular. This novel had many cursed heroes which had qualities that the devil would have, this appealed to many readers of the time, and continue to do so today. This particular gothic genre had distinct elements, among them the gothic villain, which the modern vampire characteristics are formed from. Byron through his works incorporated new characteristics to his villain that would eventually become known as the Byronic Hero.
Byron’s poem “The Giaour” (1813) incorporates a character that has many vampire-like features. He has described the character to be handsome, passionate, bleak, cynical, dark, depressed, and mysterious. “The Giaour” contains similarities to stories like Dracula and other vampire literature. The poem centers on the hero’s love for a Muslim’s wife. Her husband throws her into the sea for her unfaithfulness, and the Giaour exacts his revenge. Before the Muslim dies, he places a curse of vampirism on the Giaour to make the Giaour suffer the loss of his love and the guilt of committing a murder. These intertwining themes of love and guilt can be often found throughout the vampire legend, which was greatly inspired by Lord Byron.
During the Romanticism era Lord Byron wrote a gothic novel that was extremely popular. This novel had many cursed heroes which had qualities that the devil would have, this appealed to many readers of the time, and continue to do so today. This particular gothic genre had distinct elements, among them the gothic villain, which the modern vampire characteristics are formed from. Byron through his works incorporated new characteristics to his villain that would eventually become known as the Byronic Hero.
Byron’s poem “The Giaour” (1813) incorporates a character that has many vampire-like features. He has described the character to be handsome, passionate, bleak, cynical, dark, depressed, and mysterious. “The Giaour” contains similarities to stories like Dracula and other vampire literature. The poem centers on the hero’s love for a Muslim’s wife. Her husband throws her into the sea for her unfaithfulness, and the Giaour exacts his revenge. Before the Muslim dies, he places a curse of vampirism on the Giaour to make the Giaour suffer the loss of his love and the guilt of committing a murder. These intertwining themes of love and guilt can be often found throughout the vampire legend, which was greatly inspired by Lord Byron.
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