Lord Byron and Laskarina Bouboulina PDF

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Lord Byron and Laskarina Bouboulina – The National Hero

1. What if anything, did Lord Byron and Laskarina Bouboulina do personally that could be considered heroic? As the Ottoman Empire reigned throughout Greece for 400 excruciating years it led to the decline of the rich and historically powerful nation (Dialla and Heraclides, 2015, page 107). During his time and Greece Lord Byron published various poems that glorified the dominance and culture that it once held, unlike Achilles who showed heroic qualities through power and strength (Odyssey 22.229-365) Lord Byron through his poetry gave motivation and pride to the fellow inhabitants of Greece that their culture and history could not fall as it had inspired so many. Despite accumulating great wealth from his uncle Lord Byron sacrificed the luxurious and comfortable lifestyle in pursuit of enabling Greece. (Bbc.co.uk, 2014). Likewise, Laskarina Bouboulina sacrificed great wealth and assets for Greece and all its history both past and for the present. As a child of patriotic parents and conceived in prison Laskarina Bouboulina understood the importance and meaning of fighting for the benefit of Greece. Her resilience is constantly portrayed through various battles and struggles. During 1816 a failed attempt by the Ottoman Empire to seize her assets she fled to Constantinople to seek advice. Despite the failed attempt by the Ottomans, Laskarina was able to return to finish her mission in assisting the ‘Greek Cause’ (Pontoporou, 2017). Although the heroic acts of Lord Byron and Laskarina Bouboulina differed from ancient heroes and heroines of Achilles and Iphigenia the sacrifices they endured when applied to their respective time are worthy of heroic titles.

2. Why is Lord Byron viewed differently in Greece and in England? Although Lord Byron was an English national and spent the majority of his lifetime in England, his legacy is known for what he did for the land of Greece. Not being a fighter or a man of great physical stature rather Lord Byron being a part of the Romantic Age he equipped his use of poetry to revive the dim culture of Greece (Mortimer, 2005). Throughout Lord Byron’s poetry the endless praise and woe that that is conveyed is to lif the souls of the Greek people and also to alert fellow European countries about the despair in Greece. His untimely death on April 19th, 1824 surrounded by Greek citizens in an attempt to revive the great Hellenic culture was viewed by many as the ultimate sacrifice one could give to the Greece (Wainwright, 2008). However, despite his glorious success in Greece, Lord Byron reputation in England was mixed in various rumours about him and his half-sister Augustus Leigh. Amidst the rumours, Lord Byron ventured throughout Europe as an exiled man with no intensions of returning back to England (Marilee, 2015). On May 2018 Prince Phillip attended a meeting in Greece with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos. During the meeting President Prokopis mentioned common battles to attain freedom and the fundamental role that Lord Byron played in creating the proud modern day Hellenic country (The Greek Observer, 2018). Although Lord Byron is regarded a national hero in Greece, his deeds have allowed for the 2 lands to find common interests.

3. What do Laskarina Bouboulina’s deeds suggest about the changes that may have taken place in the understanding of what constitutes a heroine between the ancient Greek era and Greece in the 19th century? Laskarina Bouboulina’s heroic deeds compared to those of Iphigenia and Antigone drastically altered the meaning of heroine as civilisation and gender stereotypes had come a long way. In the periodic setting of Iphigenia, the ideal heroine was portrayed as women who fought not physical battles but rather those of metaphorical matters. Iphigenia was asked to serve as a sacrifice as her father Agamemnon had displeased the goddess Artemis (Iphigenia at Aulis, 1367-1420). Iphigenia’s sacrifice was the ultimate portrayal of a heroine as she affirmed her love to polis (city), inspiration to soldiers and search for Kleos (Iphigenia at Aulis, 1367-1420). Centuries later in the modern Greek era Laskarina Bouboulina redefined the concept of a heroine. The heroic deeds exemplified by Bouboulina involved being a patriotic warrior who fought various obstacles, became the first recorded naval admiral and sacrificed her assets for her land. Her deeds of capturing the fortress of Nafplion and building a large navy fleet redefined the traditional ancient Greek concept that heroines can only serve as sacrifices and pawns to society (Pontoporou, 2017). Through her deeds against the Ottoman empire she inspired various females and males such as Emperor Alexander the first Russia to understand that a heroine was more than capable of holding her own and that they could fight in a male dominant setting.

4. How might Lord Byron’s non-military deeds be understood as heroic, and what might this suggest about changes in the understanding of what constitutes a hero between the ancient Greek era and Greece in the 19th century? The ancient Greek hero was interpreted as a man of great strength, skilled in war striking in appearance. However, Lord Byron had a deformed foot, a great love for poetry and, a greater love for Greece and despite his inability to fight in war he is considered a Greeks national hero. Although he was unable to perform in military action Lord Byron still gave his all whilst understanding that he could never fight. Unlike Achilles who rode into war and killed many for his benefit as well as for his country, Lord Byron fought for the Greeks as he had much loved their history and had grown to hate the current state and balance it had become under the Ottoman Empire. Lord Byron fought a personal battle to ignite the hearts of many Greek nationals whilst also attempting to the promote the ‘Greek Case’ to many European countries that would reinforce freedom and democracy. (Ekathimerini.com, 2018). Through his decision to go to a country that was in the middle of a war and a country that he was not a national of to advocate for freedom and patriotism Lord Byron is remembered as a hero for his deeds, inspiration and ultimate death for and in Greece. Like Laskarina Bouboulina, Lord Byron changed the stereotypical images and actions from the ancient Greek heroes and for that has been acknowledged as hero of his time.

Bibliography Dialla, A. and Heraclides, A. (2015). Humanitarian Intervention in the Long Nineteenth Century. [s.l.]: Manchester University Press, p.107. Bbc.co.uk. (2014). BBC - History - Lord Byron. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/byron_lord.shtml [Accessed 24 May 2018]. Pontoporou, D. (2017). Laskarina Bouboulina, the Fearless Female Naval Commander - The National Herald. [online] Thenationalherald.com. Available at: https://www.thenationalherald.com/155588/laskarina-bouboulina-fearless-female-naval-commanderdimitra-pontoporou/ [Accessed 24 May 2018]. Mortimer, J. (2005). Byron's Greek odyssey. [online] Telegraph.co.uk. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3646862/Byrons-Greek-odyssey.html [Accessed 24 May 2018]. Wainwright, M. (2008). Greeks honour fallen hero Byron with a day of his own. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/oct/18/lordbyron-greece [Accessed 24 May 2018]. Marilee, H. (2015). Lord Byron; Life of George Noel Gordon - Facts & Information. [online] English History. Available at: https://englishhistory.net/byron/life-of-lord-byron/ [Accessed 24 May 2018]. The Greek Observer. (2018). Prince Charles visit an important link in Greece, Britain friendship, says Pavlopoulos | The Greek Observer. [online] Available at: http://thegreekobserver.com/greece/article/42733/prince-charles-visit-an-important-link-in-greecebritain-friendship-says-pavlopoulos/ [Accessed 24 May 2018]. Pontoporou, D. (2017). Laskarina Bouboulina, the Fearless Female Naval Commander - By Dimitra Pontoporou - The National Herald. [online] Thenationalherald.com. Available at: https://www.thenationalherald.com/155588/laskarina-bouboulina-fearless-female-naval-commanderdimitra-pontoporou/ [Accessed 24 May 2018]. Ekathimerini.com. (2018). Greek president calls Prince Charles' visit 'historic' | Kathimerini. [online] Available at: http://www.ekathimerini.com/228468/gallery/ekathimerini/news/greek-president-callsprince-charles-visit-historic [Accessed 25 May 2018].

Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis, translated by Mary-Kay Gamel (London, 1999)...