Don Juan
By Lord Byron
Dedication
Lord Byron prefaces the poem with a dedication in which he references his fellow poets William
Wordsworth (1770–1850) and Robert Southey (1774–1843). He does not believe that they are good poets
and insists that history will judge them accordingly. He dedicates the poem to Southey.
Canto 1
Don Juan is born in Seville, Spain. His parents are Don José and Donna Inez. She raises him in a strict
fashion, hoping that Juan will not become a womanizing, sinful man like Don José. Juan grows into a
handsome, charming young man but he falls in love with his mother's friend Donna Julia. Their affair is
exposed by her husband Don Alfonso who fights Juan and then sends Julia to a nunnery. Juan's mother
sends him to Italy to escape the scandal.
Canto 2
Juan's ship sails for Italy but a storm sinks the boat. The surviving crew members resort to cannibalism to
survive. Everyone but Juan dies and he eventually washes up on the shore of a mysterious island. Juan is
found and nursed back to health by a young woman named Haidée. Her father Lambro is a fearsome pirate
who sells slaves, so she must keep Juan hidden.
Canto 3
Haidée and Juan fall in love. They move into her father's house when he departs on a voyage and throw
lavish parties to celebrate. They believe that Lambro is dead because he has been away for an extended
period of time.
Canto 4
Lambro returns from his voyage and he is enraged by his daughter's behavior. He attacks Juan and sells him
into slavery. Haidée is so shocked that she falls ill and dies. Juan is taken to Turkey.
Canto 5
Juan is bought from a Turkish slave market by Baba the eunuch servant of Gulbeyaz. She is a wife of the
Sultan and she has Juan taken to her palace and dressed as a woman to hide him from the Sultan. She is
attracted to Juan but he remains sad about the loss of Haidée.
Canto 6
Juan is in disguise as a woman and must sleep in the women's quarters at Gulbeyaz's palace. Gulbeyaz finds
out that he was forced to sleep beside a young woman and demands that he be executed.
Canto 7
Juan, fellow slave John Johnson, and two women have escaped from Gulbeyaz's palace and find themselves
swept up in a battle between the Turkish and Russian armies.
Canto 8
The battle against the Turkish army takes place. Juan rescues an orphaned Turkish girl named Leila, is
praised for his bravery, and is then sent to deliver a message about the victory to Catherine the Great, the
Empress of Russia.
Canto 9
Catherine likes Juan and makes him an important figure at her court.
Canto 10
Juan likes life in Russia but he becomes ill due to the cold weather. Catherine appoints him as a special
ambassador and sends him to England as her representative. He travels across Europe.
Canto 11
Juan is just as popular in England as he was in Russia. He becomes wealthy and respected. Stories of his
prior adventures precede him and he lives a carefree life.
Canto 12
Juan finds a guardian for Leila and takes care of his affairs in England.
Canto 13
Juan meets Lord Henry Amundeville and his wife Lady Adeline Amundeville. They become friends and
Juan is invited to spend time with many other guests at the Amundevilles's country home.
Canto 14
Lady Adeline Amundeville and Juan become close. She decides to try to find him a wife to protect him from
the scandalous attention of women like Duchess Fitz-Fulke. Lady Adeline does not want to think about her
own marriage which is not as successful as it should be.
Canto 15
Lady Adeline and Juan think about prospective wives. His first choice is Aurora Raby. Aurora is a rich,
young Catholic orphan and he believes she would be an excellent choice. Lady Adeline is less sure. Juan
tries to talk to Aurora but she seems to ignore him. This coldness only makes him more interested in her.
Canto 16
Juan spends an anxious night alone with his thoughts. He is unable to sleep so he wanders around the large
country house. He is shocked by the sight of a monk walking through the hallways. He fears that he has seen
a ghost. At breakfast the next day Juan is pale and scared. His hosts tell him the story of a ghostly monk who
lives in their home. His spirits pick up when he talks to Aurora at dinner but the ghost returns that same
night. Juan feels more confident so he reaches out to grab the ghost. He realizes that the ghostly monk is a
person, revealed to be Duchess Fitz-Fulke.
Canto 17
Juan and Duchess Fitz-Fulke appear at breakfast together and both of them appear as though they have been
awake all night.
