One of the central concerns in Byron's Manfred is the Romantic ideal of independence and the defiance of authority. It is important to understand this as an essential aspect of Manfred and also from the perspective of the Romantic imagination and ethos as a whole. The Romantics and Byron in particular, were opposed to the norms and controls of conventional society and sought a form of independence from constraints. Another central and related theme in this work is 'pride' and the image of the hero who refuses to be subservient to any human or even spiritual authority. Through his poems Byron inspired many other Romantic writers and poets. Manfred exemplifies the belief in human "greatness" and the rejection of any restraints to the human imagination and the possibilities of life. The protagonist in the dramatic poem therefore is a hero in the Romantic tradition who refuses to submit to the demands of circumstance and asserts his independence and uniqueness even in the face of spiritual entities.
             In this dramatic poem Manfred is suffering from remorse for some crime that he has committed – possibly that of incest. The poem revolves around the main characters attempt to escape this sense of guilt. This is also related to the idea that Manfred is cursed. This can be seen in the Seventh Spirit's first speech:
             A wandering mass of shapeless flame,
             And Thou! beneath its influence born--
             Forced by a Power (which is not thine,
             And lent thee but to make thee mine)
             Where these weak Spirits round thee bend
             ...