Essay | Interpreting Lord Byron's Manfred

Lord Byron's Manfred is a dramatic poem that can be interpreted in many ways. Manfred is clearly distraught throughout the play, and it appears to be because of the death of his sister and lover Astarte. It is only hinted, which allows the reader to imagine how Manfred is really reacting, down to his emotions and facial expressions. In Act 2, Scene 2, Manfred makes his most revealing statement. He has spoken to many different supernatural creatures since the beginning of the play. In the middle of scene 2, he decides to summon a witch. As he is speaking to her, he gives the audience the background to this situation. He explains how he grew up feeling alone and that he found joy in the wilderness. He was insecure because he has supernatural powers. When he was among the mountains and...
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