“But after all, what is our present state? ’Tis bad, and may be better—all men’s lot: Most men are slaves, none more so than the great, To their own whims and passions, and what not; Society itself, which should create Kindness, destroys what little we had got: To feel for none is the true social art Of the world’s stoics—men without a heart.”
Quote by Lord Byron
Work
Lord Byron's Don Juan is a sprawling epic poem written in ottava rima, composed over several years until the author's death. Unlike traditional portrayals of Don Juan as a predatory seducer, Byron's protagonist is depicted as a handsome but largely unwitting figure who is seduced by others and drifts through a variety of amorous and picaresque encounters. The poem blends comedy, romance, and sharp social satire, targeting hypocrisy in politics, religion, and society. It ranges across settings from Spain to Greece, Turkey, Russia, and England, offering a panoramic view of early 19th-century European mores. The work is noted for its digressive style, witty narrator, and irreverent tone, and it remains one of the most celebrated examples of Romantic satire. more
Author
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