The Prisoner of Chillon

"The Prisoner of Chillon" is a 392-line narrative poem by Lord Byron. Written in 1816, it chronicles the imprisonment of a Genovois monk, François Bonivard, from 1532 to 1536.

Writing and publication

In June 22, 1816, Lord Byron and his contemporary and friend Percy Bysshe Shelley were sailing on Lake Geneva (referred to as "Lac Leman," the French name, throughout the poem) and stopped to visit the Château de Chillon.cite book|author=Cochran, Peter|title=Lord Byron: "The Prisoner of Chillon"|publisher = International Byron Society| date = 13 September 1997| url = http://www.internationalbyronsociety.org/pdf_files/prisoner_of_chillon.pdf| accessdate = 2006-11-26] After touring the castle—and walking through the dungeon in which Bonivard was imprisoned—Byron was inspired by Bonivard's story and composed "".

Because of torrential rainfall, Byron and his companion rested at a hotel in Ouchy following their tour. In late June or early July (several early drafts and copies present conflicting dates), Byron composed the longer fable. The work was probably completed by July 2, 1816. Following his return to England, "The Prisoner of Chillion" was first published as "The Prisoner of Chillon and Other Poems" by John Murray on December 5, 1816.

Structure

The work's themes and images follow those of a typical poem by Lord Byron: the protagonist is an isolated figure, and brings a strong will to bear against great sufferings. He seeks solace in the beauty of nature (especially in sections ten and thirteen), and is a martyr of sorts to the cause of liberty. Like much of Byron's work, it came about as a reaction to his own experiences as a traveller, making use of historical and geographical knowledge Byron gained in continental Europe.

Byron titled his work "The Prisoner of Chillon / a fable"; stylistically, it is a romantic verse-tale.cite book|author=Ward & Trent, et al., eds.|title=The Cambridge History of English and American Literature|publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons|date=1907–1921|url=http://www.bartleby.com/222/0210.html|accessdate=2006-11-26|location=New York|chapter=§10. The Verse-tales. II. Byron.]

The first line "Eternal Spirit of the chainless Mind" echoes the line "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind" from Pope's Eloisa to Abelard.

References