Evil in Byrons Dramas: Manfred, Cain, Heaven and Earth, The Deformed T

The Conception of Evil in Byrons Dramas Manfred, Cain, Heaven and Earth, The Deformed Transformed. The depictions of and ideas about malign in Byrons dramas Cain, The Deformed Transformed, Heaven and Earth and Manfred atomic number 18 fairly common between the four texts. On the basic level, evil is seen as a force opposite to good, which all humans have the electromotive force for. Only some humans express this potential, and their downfall into evil is often brought about by temptation, usually from a divine being. God punishes evil. This interpretation of evil is problematic, however. Because God administers punishment, evil becomes anything that questions the omnipotence of God. The hint that God himself may have an evil side is a truth that may not be discovered without premiere questioning, an action that endangers the questioner. Evil is acknowledged as a force separate and opposite from good. Cains Lucifer admits the all-encompassing nature of evil in run II Scene II But ignorance of evil doth not save from evil,/ it must still roll on the same,/ A part of all things. all the same before Cain has committed murder or seemingly done anything wrong, Lucifer refers to thy present state of sin - and thou art evil (Cain Act II Scene II) Evil, then, is a potential present in everyone, though it is not necessarily acted on in every case, and indeed is not desirable. Cain declares I proclivity for good and Lucifers answer shows that this is the normal attitude for men - And who and what doth not? Who covets evil/ For its own bitter sake? None - nothing Tis/ The leaven of all bread and butter and lifelessness. Evil seems to be defined in Byrons dramas as selfishness or lack of regard for God. Good, by contr... ... religious morality. The assertion of individuality is threatening to union and to God, so these entities declare selfishness and over-individuality as sinful and evil, so they are justified in punishing them. What is defined as evil is really anything that threatens potence, be it the authority of God, a ruler of some kind or the authority of the idea of society itself over individuality. Works Cited Byron The Poetical Works of Lord Byron. The Albion Edition. Frederick Warne and Co London. LaCerva, P A Byron and the Pseudepigrapha A Reexamination of the Mystery Plays. In Byron Journal, Volume 14 Praz, M, ed. West, P Metamorphoses of Satan. In Byron, A Collection of Critical Essays. Prentice Hall new Jersey Raphael, F The Byronic Myth. In Byron Journal Volume 12 Vuilamy, C E (1948) Byron. Michael Joseph London