"Don Juan Canto-I"
Poetry
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Lord Byron
Don Juan Canto 1 Full Poem
CANTO THE FIRST
I want a hero: an uncommon want,
When every year and month sends forth a new one,
Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant,
The age discovers he is not the true one;
Of such as these I should not care to vaunt,
I’ll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan—
We all have seen him, in the pantomime,
Sent to the devil somewhat ere his time.
Vernon, the butcher Cumberland, Wolfe,...
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Don Juan Canto-I Themes
Love and Marriage: One of the main targets of Byron’s satire in Canto I is marriage. He presents marriage as something that often brings unhappiness rather than love and harmony. Don Juan’s parents, Don José and Donna Inez, are a mismatched couple. Donna Inez is virtuous and intelligent, while Don José is carefree and has a wandering eye. Their constant fights reveal the problems in their relation...
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"Don Juan Canto-I" Characters
Don Juan (Protagonist/Hero): A young boy, only 16 years old. Very handsome, rich, and innocent. Fell in love with Julia.
Don José (Hero's Father): Juan's father, who is unfaithful to his wife and careless of his reputation.
Donna Inez (Hero's Mother): Juan's mother, a learned woman plagued by her husband's infidelity. One of her chief interests is the education of her son.
The Narrator: A friend o...
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"Don Juan Canto-I" Literary Devices
Figures of Speech
Irony: Byron says the opposite of what he really means, often to mock. Example: "A real husband always is suspicious." He mocks jealous husbands.
Metaphor: Comparing without using "like" or "as". Example: "Here is the empire of thy perfect bliss." Love is called an empire of happiness.
Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: "Oh Love! in such a wilde...
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"Don Juan Canto-I" Summary
Background: Most critics think that Don Juan reflects Lord Byron. Lord Byron wrote this poem to criticize the prevailing customs of society. In fact, in England at that time, there was a wide age difference between husband and wife regarding marriage. Again showing contempt for the first generation of Romantic poets, particularly Robert Southey, Byron dedicated the poem to him.
Summary
The Narrato...
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Don Juan Canto 1 Quotations
Quotations
"I want a hero: an uncommon want,"
Explanation: The poet says he wants a new kind of hero — not the usual strong or perfect man. He wants someone real and different. It shows Byron's irony and humor.
"A real husband always is suspicious".
Explanation: This line mocks jealous husbands. It means a "real" husband always doubts his wife. Byron is being sarcastic about marriage and trust....
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Notes
Explore 10 detailed notes related to "Don Juan Canto-I". Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.