Lord Byron as a Poet of Romantic Age | 'She Walks in Beauty'

George Gordon Byron (1788-1824) also entitled as ‘Lord Byron’ was a great, extraordinary and outstanding poet of Romantic period (1798-1832). Romantic age in English literature is also known as Renaissance of Wonder. This marvelous era is characterized with a number of salient features which make it unique and matchless.

The most glaring facet of this peculiar age is its focus on emotions, particularly of love. The context of the poem ‘She Walks in Beauty’, reveals that Lord Byron went to attend a ball party where he met his cousin, Sir Robert Wilmot and his amiable wife, Anne Beatrix Wilmot, who stole the poet’s heart by her alluring, attractive and charming fascination. In fact, Lord Byron was one of those lusty bachelors who are carrying their hearts on their palms to deliver it to any beautiful woman they meet. He took a fancy to her and got infatuated with her. He could not control his feelings and emotions of love for her and wrote a whole poem in her admiration.

It has been the tradition of Romantics that they give much importance to beauty, particularly aesthetic beauty and more especially to the female’s natural beauty. Lady, Anne Beatrix Wilmot, was dressed in a very attractive and colorful frock through which her lingerie was visible else clear. Sprangles and sequins had added their share in the overall beauty of her dress. Her pretty sanguine cheeks were glowing with the bounty of appreciations. The poet saw her with a single wistfulness and drenched into the hotness of his sensuousness and could not resist the erotic temptations of his powerful emotions. The very next morning, he wrote the poem;

 

“She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies.”

 

Almost all the Romantics have praised women in their mysterious ways according to their own mental approaches and intellectual abilities. But Byron seems to surpass them all in his style of expressing outward as well as inward beauty of his center of interest. Therefore, he abruptly said;

 

“But tell of the days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.”

 

Another interesting feature of Romantic movement is the introduction of autobiographical elements in the writings. We see Wordsworth personally hankering after the invisible voice of cuckoo bird. Similarly, Lord Byron was physically present in the place, at the time and with the extremely beautiful lady who had allured his ever-pounding heart. He was fond of attending parties especially ball parties where women jig and dance. In fact, his presence is also in accordance with the demands of Romanticism. Lord Byron got much impressed and influenced by the way she talked, the words she spoke and the style she gestured with – all speak of the serenity of her thoughts and peaceful behaviour. The poet says that she was talking so gracefully with her jerking and jolting cheeks and eye brows which were equally eloquent and alluring. The poet’s eyes flickered and his heart failed when he glanced on her smiling lips.

The poet dwells on the beauty of her physical attractions even when he talks about the goodness of her heart. Perhaps, the poet got dazzled by her delicious lips and fluffy cheeks. The matter of fact is that it is no matter for him whether his paramour is a bachelor or a married woman. He knew one thing and that is how to win a woman’s heart i.e., by praising her outward fascinations and inner qualities.

Above all, like all other Romantics, Byron has also made the fullest use of maximum figures of speech in his famous poem ‘She Walks in Beauty’. His similes and metaphors play their perfect role in the description of every aspect of that graceful lady. Nevertheless, his art of characterization combines with his poetic impulse to produce a real picture of his goddess of beauty. Consequently, the readers feel rivetted to his imagery. It means that Lord Byron has written in accordance with demands of his age.

To conclude, Byron’s poetry shows that he was much impressed, inspired and influenced by the new movement. He was a true representative of Romantic age.

Poem: 'She Walks in Beauty'

Lord Byron (George Gordon)

 

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

 

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o’er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

 

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!