To that list, I'd add Diane Chambers and Sam Malone, respectively, of Cheers.
With that in mind, to be honest, I'd wager there's a sort of Opposites Attract element to it (the SYL is generally more positive and hopeful, eager to influence things for the benefit of herself and those she loves; the BH is more cynical, or at the least less willing to risk hoping for relief from the angst)—while simultaneously, there's also enough of a "kindred spirit" connection which "justifies" the pairing: they both chafe against society's restrictions in some way, they're both independent and even stubborn—they're both rebels.
Apparition in the Woods
Are Darcy or Rochester really Byronic heroes at all, though? Darcy is socially incompetent and emotionally wounded, but ultimately kind and surprisingly selfless; and Rochester's strongest mark against his character is how he dealt with his first wife's illness, and that's more tragic than truly morally dubious. A true Byronic hero is a much darker sort of character than that, and much more emotionally tempestuous. Think Heathcliff.
I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
Who's Heathcliff and how is he a Byronic Hero?
Rochester's definitely a Byronic Hero - he's mysterious, with and dark and hidden past, striking rather than classically handsome looks, influenced sharply and at times dangerously by his strong emotions, and alluring in spite of poor morals (not demonstrated simply by locking his wife up - which, given that insane asylums in Britain were just on the cusp of being reformed from "hellish" into "decent", isn't treated as a major moral flaw by the books - but by his numerous past love affairs, seeking to entice Jane into bigamy against her principles, and defiance of God's laws).
Heathcliff (in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights), in contrast, is more a deconstruction of the Byronic hero, as his passionate love and equally passionate hatreds are not romanticized by the author, but shown to be utterly destructive to the lives of everyone around him.
Darcy isn't a Byronic Hero, because he hasn't done anything seriously wrong - he's just been an arrogant git. He also doesn't defy social mores (again, aside from being an arrogant git); he's a very respectable (and eligible) bachelor. He also doesn't have anything particularly dark in his past. If you want a Byronic character (villain rather than hero) in Austen's works, Willoughby comes closest - he's passionate, defiant of social mores, and morally dissolute with a dark past that prevents him from being with Marianne.
edited 29th Jun '14 7:29:35 AM by WarriorEowyn
Well, I won't call myself an expert on "Pride & Prejudice", as it feels like I've forgotten too many details (One of these days, I have to re-read the book, or at least get around to re-watch one of the adaptions). But I have to say that Darcy is a more complicated and "darker" than, say, Mr Bingley. If he's not really a Byronic Hero, my bad. But he was clearly flawed enough to make Elizabeth distrust him until he helped two of her sisters. But by all means, feel free to correct me.
Willoughby is more like a deconstruction of the Romantic hero. He's not quite as bad as Heathcliff, but still...
edited 28th Jun '14 5:16:45 AM by Furienna
I wouldn't call Darcy a Byronic Hero either. He's lacking the passion, internal conflict and deep flaws that the character is supposed to have.
Darcy looks a bit like a Byronic Hero on the surface, which is sort of what turns Elizabeth off him (that and the fact that he's just pretty rude in general). Hence the 'prejudice' of the title.
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
Apparition in the Woods
@Warrior Eowyn: Ah, fair points!
I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
I wonder if anyone else have noticed how in many works, a Spirited Young Lady and a Byronic Hero are linked together?
Just a few examples:
And I suspect that there are more examples out there, if I could only think of them. And in a way, it does make sense that these two character types often are linked together. They are both associated with intelligence and a disregard for stiff conventions.
edited 24th Jun '14 7:41:11 AM by Furienna