Lord Byron’s, “Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte” is a very
interesting and moving poem. It demonstrates a mix of contempt and slight
admiration for Napoleon’s terrible accomplishments, though he does rightfully
tear him apart throughout the poem. Byron uses a series of comparisons to other
famous rulers and mythical characters who held great power and then experienced
a fall, including Satan himself when he says, “since he, miscall’d the Morning
Star/nor man nor fiend hath fall’n so far.” I think this is a very effective
strategy because Byron is saying, look at all these other terrible people, but
still you (Napoleon) are worse than all of them. Additionally, the idea that he
is writing an “ode” to Napoleon himself and speaking directly to him is
interesting, considering it is unlikely that Napoleon would actually ever read
it. This rhetorical strategy gives him more credibility in the eyes of the
reader, just like Williams and More did by writing in the style of the letter
to a friend.
I think it is important to notice, like you stated, that there is the presence of a slight admiration for Napoleon. I think that this feature is necessary because it is unrealistic to completely denounce Napoleon's accomplishments (as they earned him much power and control). Therefore, I think that the Ode actually gain credibility by not refusing to accept the importance of what Napoleon was a part of. By having this feature, it makes the reader more open and trusting of what was wrong with Napoleon.
ReplyDeleteI liked your point about the form of the poem as an ode, Katie. Because odes are traditionally poems of admiration, the subject is elevated to a heroic level, often using historic or literary allusions to emphasize their grandeur. This sets up that contrast between the admiration, which one anticipates from the ode form, and the contempt felt for Napoleon, shown in the comparisons to terrible rulers. Rather than lauding the character of Napoleon, Byron manipulates the ode form in order to elevate his failures and shortcomings.
ReplyDelete