zork

Back to the book reviews. Lord Byron wrote "Manfred" in 1816/17, and published it in 1817. (I guess this is really a "poem review", not a "book review".)

There are many versions of "Faust", including at least two operas (by Gounod and Berlioz), several plays (Marlowe, Goethe, W. O. Mitchell, etc) and numerous stories. They share the basic theme of a person (male, in all the versions I know of) selling his soul to the Devil in exchange for some benefit (power, knowledge, a beautiful woman, winning the Brier curling championship, etc). The drama of the story typically peaks when the Devil comes to collect his due: How will Faust escape the bargain and save his soul?

"Manfred" is unique (to the best of my limited knowledge) in that when the time comes, he does not try to escape his fate. He has made a choice, and will accept the results.

In this version of the story, Manfred (Faust) doesn't explicitly sell his soul to the Devil. Instead, he denies his humanity, filled with hubris (the pride that leads to a fall):

"Humility ... that I never had." (line 115)

in his search for knowledge. He regrets his choice. He traded his soul for knowledge, only to find that

"sorrow is knowledge: they who know the most
Must mourn the deepest o'er the fatal truth,
The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life."
(lines 10-13)

In the end, as he is about to die, he accepts complete responsibility for his fate. Speaking to the demons who arrive to take his soul, he says,

"Thou didst not tempt me...
I have not been thy dupe, nor am I thy prey--
But was my own destroyer, and will be
My own hereafter. Back, ye baffled fiends!
The hand of death is on me -- but not yours!"
(lines 137--141)

Other versions of the story end otherwise. Marlowe's Faustus prays for forgiveness in the end. Goethe's Faust is saved, even without asking. Benet's Jabez Stone hires a clever lawyer to get free on a technicality ("The Devil and Daniel Webster"). Mitchell's Wullie MacCrimmon beats the Devil in a curling match (but only by planting a silver rivet in the Devil's curling boot). Only Manfred accepts his fate.

[Zork puts on his "social critic" hat] I think Byron's lesson is critical, even more now than when he was writing: make your choices, but then accept the consequences! How much of our society is dedicated to avoiding the consequences of our choices? ["social critic" hat off]

Byron writes wonderfully well. I can hardly even comment on it... he being one of the acknowledged great poets of English literature, and all. Another bit I like:

"I could not tame my nature down; for he
Must serve who fain would sway -- and soothe -- and sue --
And watch all time -- and pry into all place --
And be a living lie -- who would become
A mighty thing amongst the mean, and such
The mass are; I disdain'd to mingle with
A herd, though to be leader -- and of wolves.
The lion is alone, and so am I."
(lines 117--123)

One comment on style: "Manfred" is written as a play, but is not particularly intended (according to Byron) to be put on stage. He wrote it to be read.

For a change of pace from "Manfred", read "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers", Byron's hilarious insult to the Edinburgh Review (the foremost critical forum in Britain at Byron's time).