The Byronic hero as reimagined in E.L. James' novel Fifty Shades of Grey

The aim of this research is the investigation of the concept of the Byronic hero and the discovery of the Neo-Byronic hero in Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. This paper focuses on representing and showing the characteristics of the Byronic hero from a new perspective of the Neo-Byronic hero, relying on the hypostases that have been conceived from the period Byron created his heroes and maintains to be shaped in history by literary critics until today. Byronic hero prototype is established by Lord Byron in his major works but the literature of posterity continues to be fascinated by this heroic typology, delivering its various hypostases. The most impressive and unexpected reworking of the Byronic hero is to be found in the contemporary trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey. The purpose of this study is to develop the connections between the Byronic hero and E.L. James's hypostasis Christian Grey. The questions that are central to this discourse of the Byronic hero will refer to the ways this character is represented, how much Byronic hero's persona is preserved in fascinating Christian Grey and to investigate in which ways the new Byronic hero departs from its original prototype. Other literary examples of Byronic heroes from the 19th century onwards are highlighted, as well as, present some antecedents of the Byronic hero in contemporary popular culture. Key Words: the Byronic hero, hypostasis, the Neo-Byronic hero, Fifty Shades of Grey