LORD BYRON’S PHILOSOPHY OF LOVE

George Gordon Byron (1788-1824) also entitled as ‘Lord Byron’ was a great, divergent and versatile poet of Romantic age. His poetry is widely read and appreciated by the readers and the critics have praised and exalted his style and depth of thought. His ‘She Walks in Beauty’ is known as one of the finest masterpieces in the world of English literature. Nevertheless, a cursory look at Byron’s life style and his amorous affairs can help us understand his intentions behind writing this marvelous poem.

Lord Byron was the sixth baron of Rockdale, England. Since his school days, he had been hot enough to be bisexual and as such had developed taboo relationships with his classmates (Both male and female). As he grew young, he developed into a very handsome manly man with a dashing and daring personality. His sensuousness also grew to match with his physical attractions. Hence, he appeared with a newer beloved each year whom he jilted, seduced and left for the next one. In the meanwhile, a rumour confirms his incestuous relationships with his half-sister, Augusta Leigh, who is said to have given birth to his illegitimate daughter. He was expert in the art of praising and deluding women as it was his old dance. It is said that he went to Geneva once and met Percy Bysshe Shelley (The poet) and his family. He enraptured Shelley’s sister-in-law, Clairmont, and ultimately impregnated her. When this scandal came to spotlight, he defended himself through a letter to his friend;

 

“I never loved her nor pretended to love her, but a man is a man, and if a girl of eighteen comes prancing at all hours of the night, there is but one way.”

 

Therefore, Lady Caroline Lamb, concluded the personality of her lover in the words;

 

“Mad, mad and dangerous to know”.

 

As far as ‘She Walks in Beauty’ is concerned, Byron (1814) went to attend a ball party where he ran into his cousin, Sir Robert Wilmot and his amiable wife, Anne Beatrix Wilmot, who was feeling remorse for excessive decorations of sprangles and sequins on her dress. It was all because of her simple heart and mind. Though she looked pert and rakish yet she was passing aw shucks smile to everyone she met.

Lord Byron got engrossed in the thought of that exquisite and ravishing beauty. His heart went wild. He scanned her from head to toe, swept away in the limelight of her alluring charms and the very next day wrote this poem on her killing beauty. Therefore, he uttered;

 

“She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies.”

 

Almost all colours in dark and bright shades – red on cheeks, pink on lips, sanguine on face, hue on ears, white on nose, brown on moles, black on hair, pinkish red on neck, blue on veins – collaboratively make her attractive, charming and fascinating physical stature. Her bright face, dark deep eyes, glowing forehead and juicy cheeks reveal that how beautifully dull and bright colours might have come together to adorn this beautiful woman. As a whole she was a paragon of such a tender light which is comparable to the dazzling light which a full blooming day produces. In fact, he wants to say that every shade is perfect in its place;

 

“One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace.”

 

Her jet-black locks of hair and fairness of countenance bear the testimony of the magnificent symmetry of colours. This is the account of mere her superficial charms. However, the poet goes to expound her inner most peculiarities in order to satisfy, assuage and gratify his own temptations and implicitly, to win her heart all the way. 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 Anne’s heart. Perhaps, the poet got dazzled by her delicious lips and fluffy cheeks. He heard the erotic beats of his heart which compelled him to write about this beautiful lady. The matter of fact is that it is no matter for him whether his paramour is a bachelor or a married woman. He knew how to win the heart of a woman i.e., by praising her outward fascinations and inner qualities. Therefore, he added;

 

“But tell of the days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.”

 

To conclude, we may say unhesitatingly that no one knows about Byron’s actual intentions behind writing this poem but one thing is clear that he was a lusty bachelor who never skipped a chance if he saw any beauty. 

Note: Click to read full poem 'She Walks in Beauty'