Stanzas Written in Dejection

"Stanzas Written in Dejection" is our only example of Shelley adopting a Byronic attitude and tone, but in a very interesting way. Where Byron's speakers often see their inward states REFLECTED in nature, Shelley's speaker here CONTRASTS his inner state and the outward scene. Focus on this in your response/explication.

We find this speaker sitting upon a beach in his reflection around noon. The day sounds lovely at first, "The Sun is warm, the sky is clear,//The waves are dancing fast and bright" All of the images in the first stanza sound pleasant until you reach the end. "The City's voice itself is soft, like Solitude's." Here our our first hints of the Byronic male. We knew the man was alone, but here this fact is drawn attention to.

He observes the ocean, "the Deep's untrampled floor//With green and purple seaweeds strown." He relates to the waves crashing, "Like light dissolves in star-showers, thrown" as they come to their end on the sand likely not far from his solitude. There they are thrown, as he has felt he has been. He hears a sound, maybe the ocean itself, maybe a fog horn that sounds as mournful as this speaker feels, (would those exist during this time? It would make perfect sense here!) "...and a tone//Arises from its measured motion,//How sweet! did any heart now share my emotion."

He is a pessimistic man, "Alas, I have not hope nor health//Nor peace within nor calm around" He has no contentment in his life, "Nor that content surpassing wealth//The sage in meditation found" He feels that he has nothing and that nothing has been given him as it has been given to others, "Others I see whom these surround,//Smiling they live and call life pleasure;//To me that cup has been dealt in another measure." Did he have these things, he seems to not think he'd take enjoyment from them either.

He has a heavy load that he must bear until his death. He knows this and his despair is lessened somewhat at this time, though he still feels as though he could just stop and cry. "I could lie down like a tired child//And weep away life of care"

He claims that others might miss him were he to die, but compares it with his losing this lovely day instead of someone losing a loved one, Some might lament that I were cold,//As I, when this sweet day is gone" He feels that he isn't loved, but his lose would be regretted, "...for I am one//Whom men love not, and yet regret" but again compares his passing with the passing of that day, which he would remember fondly, "Unlike this day, which, when the Sun//Shall on its stainless glory set,//Will linger though enjoyed, like joy in Memory yet." He knows his death would be regretted, but he doesn't feel he will be remembered fondly. This is both a fine example of the Byronic hero, stealing himself into isolation and being aware that he is unliked by his peers. This is also somewhat selfish, thinking he could just die and that no one would honestly miss him in a way of love or friendship. What is the Byronic hero is not selfish?