Jane Eyre Byronic Hero Analysis

What are the qualities of a Byronic hero? This character type, named after Lord Byron, is not similar to the archetypical hero of many stories. These characters display qualities such as intelligence, cunning, and violence. Byronic heroes do not act like normal heroes in the sense that they scorn typical heroic behavior and are not perfect. Mr. Rochester, from the novel Jane Eyre, is an example of a Byronic Hero. In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontё characterizes Mr. Rochester as a Byronic Hero by portraying him as self aware, emotionally traumatized, concerned with matters of justice over matters of legality, and manipulative. Throughout the novel, Mr. Rochester is shown to be aware of his condition and state of affairs. He does not deny anything that he has done. After it is found out that he already has a wife, Rochester wholly accepts the truth as he says, “Providence has checked me, ―perhaps the last. I am little better than a devil at this moment; … , deserve no doubt the sternest judgments of God, ―even to the quenchless fire and deathless worm” (Ch. 26, 556). Rochester understands that he is wrong and can distinguish this on
Rochester shows is his concern with matters of justice over matters of legality. Mr. Rochester feels that the law is restrictive and unfair to him. It does not allow him to be happy, as he is unable to marry Jane: “I invite you all to come up to the house and visit … my wife! You shall see what sort of a being I was cheated into espousing, and judge whether or not I had a right to break the compact, and seek sympathy with something at least human” (Ch. 26, 557). Rochester acknowledges his wrong doings in accordance to the law and justifies them by complaining about his miserable life. If not stopped he would have continued with the ceremony and broken the law. In all, Brontë characterizes Rochester as being concerned with justice instead of the law, as he puts what he believes to be correct