nearly as controversial as his lifestyle. Gordon Byron was born with a

clubfoot and his sensitivity to it haunted his life and his works. Despite

being a very handsome child, a fragile self-esteem made Byron extremely

sensitive to criticism, of himself or of his poetry and he tended to make

enemies rather quickly. The young Byron was often unhappy and lonely any many

of his works seem to be a sort of introspective therapy. Throughout his

writings and life history there is much evidence to suggest that his poetry

was greatly influenced by his mental instability. In many ways, Byron seems

to use his work as an escape from a difficult reality. The lengthy poem Don

Juan offers an especially intimate glimpse of Byron's psyche.

In order to understand the depth of Byron's psychological troubles and

their influence on his poetry, it is important to examine Byron's heritage

and his upbringing. Young George Gordon inherited the title of Lord Byron at

the age of six. This him a rank in society and a bit of wealth to go along

with it. Byron's heritage is a colorful one. His paternal line includes the

"Wicked Lord", "Mad Jack and "Foul Weather

past. He alters the legend of Don Juan to fit his own needs because he

woman who look'd a lecture, each eye a sermon (Longman 577)." Donna Inez

his later works. Of the many poems in which Byron reveals details from his

at sixteen is a pious mamma's boy, dedicated to heaven by a mother from hell

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)