Fifty Writers on Fifty Shades of Grey by Lori Perkins Page A

what makes a hero “Byronic” and how does Christian Grey measure up?
    Originating with Lord Byron’s
Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage
, the term “Byronic hero” is defined by the
Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms
as a “boldly defiant but bitterly self-tormenting outcast, proudly contemptuous of social norms but suffering from some unnamed sin.” In other words, he’s a sexy badass who might have a chip on his shoulder, but is naughty in all the right ways.
    Classically, this type of character possesses similar physical attributes. At first glance, the Byronic hero is utter perfection.He is usually handsome and sexually attractive, seductive, mysterious, and charismatic. He is physically powerful and has a commanding presence. When we first meet Christian Grey, protagonist Anastasia Steele describes him as “tall, dressed in a fine gray suit, white shirt, and black tie with unruly dark copper-colored hair and intense, bright gray eyes.” Much of Ana’s inner monologue is devoted to obsessing over his beauty, how good he smells, and his overall physical perfection. In a nutshell: this guy is hot.
    In addition to physical beauty, these characters tend to be worldly and cultured, arrogant yet charming. Think: Christian Bale in
American Psycho
, without the chainsaw and psychopathic tendencies. Christian Grey drinks the best wine and orders the most expensive champagne. He knows his gin; he has cucumber in his Hendricks and lime in his Bombay. He is a brilliant piano player who speaks fluent French and quotes Antoine de Saint-Exupery. A pilot, a sailor, an opera enthusiast, he is the epitome of sophistication.
    The Byronic hero also fits a certain intellectual persona. Since he is perceptive, intelligent, and enlivened by a good challenge, he often partakes in witty banter, which is aptly demonstrated by Ana and Christian’s email exchanges. Determined, capable, and bright, these men are typically wealthy and successful. In Christian’s case, he’s a twenty-seven-year-old CEO who makes about $100,000 an hour. Helicopter and a private jet? Homes in Aspen and New York? A fifty-foot sailboat named after his adoptive mother? He has all these things and more. He tells Ana that he wants to lavish money on her: “I could buy you your heart’s desire, Anastasia, and I want to.” Just in case I’ve lost you, let’s recap. Drop-dead gorgeous sex god? Check. Ridiculously wealthy? Check. And he wants to take her on a shopping spree with his black Amex. Are you swooning yet?
    Ah, but there is a catch: beneath his physical perfection, sophistication, and wealth lies a complicated emotional persona.Christian, our self-proclaimed “dark knight,” has perfected the art of brooding. Like his fictional counterparts, he can be solitary, moody, aloof, and distant. His self-critical and self-deprecating tendencies can escalate to self-loathing if not kept in check. He can be obsessive and controlling to the point of suffocation.
    A few minutes into their first meeting Ana calls him a “control freak,” to which he responds: “Oh, I exercise control in all things, Miss Steele.” He likes to be in charge and his penchant for social and sexual dominance allows him to use sex as a weapon. Repeatedly described as “mercurial,” Christian Grey is a “mass of contradictions.” He is strong, yet fragile, presenting himself as the quintessential alpha male only in an effort to mask his vulnerability. At times he is uptight, selfish, and depressive; at others, carefree and playful. Christian’s moods change so frequently that Ana actually Googles “multiple personality disorder”! It does not get much more confusing or frustrating than being in a relationship with a Byronic hero.
    Sure, Christian Grey is conflicted, cynical, and at times quite unreasonable, but like many of the Byronic heroes who came before him, underneath his tough exterior are glimpses of his integrity and soul. Deep down he is a good man. He has a heart for