A Byronic hero is any character that is modeled after Lord Byron. A Byronic hero is a character marked by splendid personal qualities, has a hidden sin and many other versatile attributes. Many Authors have opted to create characters based on this interesting type of character. One of these authors is Charlotte Bronte. Bronte uses her character Edward Rochester to portray the prototype of this character. In Charlotte Bronte's novel, Jane Eyre, Rochester is used as a Byronic hero.
First, Rochester displays the Byronic traits of being intelligent and having a mysterious appearance. Throughout the novel he uses clever tactics to figure out what Jane is thinking of him. It is obvious that Rochester engages in a higher level of thinking based on his action. One example of this thinking is when Rochester and Jane are walking through the garden and he tells Jane that he is going to marry Blanche just to see how she reacts before proposing to her. Rochester gives off an intelligent vibe and Mrs. Fairfax proves this when she says, "I dare say he is clever: but I never had much conversation with him" (Bronte 108). Rochester also follows the guidelines of showing a mysterious appearance. The reader gets the sense that throughout the book Rochester has a mysterious image to his appearance. When Jane first sees Rochester she describes his appearance. Jane explains "He had a dark face, with stern features and a heavy brow; his eyes and gathered eyebrows looked ireful and thwarted just now, he was past youth, but had not reached middle age" (Bronte 116). In summary Rochester is both intelligent and has a mysterious appearance which both place Rochester as a Byronic hero.
Next, Rochester was a wanderer and was cursed with a sin he was forced to hide. Rochester enjoyed wandering about and was at many times away from Thornfeild, touring around the world. Mrs. Fairfax once said that she would not be surprised if Rochester had just went directly to London.
