George Gordon, commonly known as Lord Byron, a British poet and one of the leading figures in romanticism during the 19th Century, is also considered as significant influence on Europe in terms on writing, music, and arts. As most of the romantic exponents, his texts are mostly recognized by the exaltation of feelings and ordinary life, love for women, and respect for nature. However, it does not necessarily mean that all his works address to those subjects. For example, after first reading the poem She Walks in Beauty, one could interpret the text as exaltation to the beloved; nevertheless, it could also be understood as a manifestation of oppression against women in the patriarchal society. Gordon diminished women by the objectification of their beauty as one of the main valuable features that they have: “And all that 's best of dark and bright/ Meet in her aspect and her eyes”. He made reference to women by using terms of physical description: “face”, “cheek”, “brow”, “smiles”, and “eyes”. Thus, it may be suggested that Gordon denies women’s intelligence and knowledge because he only valued the importance of females in relation to their refined appearance. He also reinforced the previous statement through his assumption about women as angels; hence, he described women as graceful, tender, peaceful, lovely, and calm. Moreover, Lord Byron stereotyped females as innocent creatures, which may support the patriarchal beliefs that men have power over women and they are in a higher position. Furthermore, Gordon marginalized women by using the pronoun “she” in capital letters instead of the woman’s name. It represents the lack of importance that females have to him, and probably, in his perception, most of them are equal, which reduces women’s identity as human beings. Finally, Lord Byron stated a duality between good and evil in regards to women’s behaviour: “And all that 's best of dark and bright/ Meet in her aspect and her eyes”. It implies a sexual connotation of having an “angel” in society and “whorse” in bed to fulfill men’s desires, which marginalizes and reduces women as sexual servants. Therefore, the poem She Walks in Beauty is an example of discrimination against women’s intelligence. In a different fashion, the poem When we two parted exemplifies how men could have feminine features, which are not normal in a patriarchal society. Gordon magnified the pain that a man can suffer due to the separation of the two lovers, which is not normal because men are not supposed to be sentimental and/or emotional. Also, he stated the loneliness and fears by the missing of the person who loves: “In silence and tears,/ Half broken-hearted/ A knell to mine ear;/ A shudder comes o'er me”. According to the patriarchal point of view, those emotions imply a lack of manhood, which could lead men into a lack of self-confidence and esteem that is allowed in this context. Hence, Lord Byron, in When we two parted, exposes a different perspective of how men could behave.
George Gordon, commonly known as Lord Byron, a British poet and one of the leading figures in romanticism during the 19th Century, is also considered as significant influence on Europe in terms on writing, music, and arts. As most of the romantic exponents, his texts are mostly recognized by the exaltation of feelings and ordinary life, love for women, and respect for nature. However, it does not necessarily mean that all his works address to those subjects. For example, after first reading the poem She Walks in Beauty, one could interpret the text as exaltation to the beloved; nevertheless, it could also be understood as a manifestation of oppression against women in the patriarchal society. Gordon diminished women by the objectification of their beauty as one of the main valuable features that they have: “And all that 's best of dark and bright/ Meet in her aspect and her eyes”. He made reference to women by using terms of physical description: “face”, “cheek”, “brow”, “smiles”, and “eyes”. Thus, it may be suggested that Gordon denies women’s intelligence and knowledge because he only valued the importance of females in relation to their refined appearance. He also reinforced the previous statement through his assumption about women as angels; hence, he described women as graceful, tender, peaceful, lovely, and calm. Moreover, Lord Byron stereotyped females as innocent creatures, which may support the patriarchal beliefs that men have power over women and they are in a higher position. Furthermore, Gordon marginalized women by using the pronoun “she” in capital letters instead of the woman’s name. It represents the lack of importance that females have to him, and probably, in his perception, most of them are equal, which reduces women’s identity as human beings. Finally, Lord Byron stated a duality between good and evil in regards to women’s behaviour: “And all that 's best of dark and bright/ Meet in her aspect and her eyes”. It implies a sexual connotation of having an “angel” in society and “whorse” in bed to fulfill men’s desires, which marginalizes and reduces women as sexual servants. Therefore, the poem She Walks in Beauty is an example of discrimination against women’s intelligence. In a different fashion, the poem When we two parted exemplifies how men could have feminine features, which are not normal in a patriarchal society. Gordon magnified the pain that a man can suffer due to the separation of the two lovers, which is not normal because men are not supposed to be sentimental and/or emotional. Also, he stated the loneliness and fears by the missing of the person who loves: “In silence and tears,/ Half broken-hearted/ A knell to mine ear;/ A shudder comes o'er me”. According to the patriarchal point of view, those emotions imply a lack of manhood, which could lead men into a lack of self-confidence and esteem that is allowed in this context. Hence, Lord Byron, in When we two parted, exposes a different perspective of how men could behave.
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