I : IV - VI Decision

A young guy living his life luxuriously and carefree, yet in such misery that he basks under the sun in agony, losing his purpose of life. Now doesn't that sound familiar? Travelling has always been a symbolic way in the literature of self-discovery and searching for one's meaning of life. Think Kerouac's On The Road, Sal and Dean's journey and their quest of finding God. Harold's sorry life, to me, is similar to that of the Beat Generation. The Childe is finally realizing that he's eating up his family's wealth, soiling his family's reputation, and feeling a kind of emptiness inside of him. Indeed, he is so satiated physically and materially, no wonder he's in need of some smacking and awakening. 

"I'm so fed up with life and I need to get out of here!" 

Again, sound familiar? It's an endless and forever fresh theme: the young and the restless searching for themselves. The generation of the 70s living on the clouds under the effect of LSD; the generation of the 90s who enjoyed some explosive economy growth were excused from having no ambition other than working in a flower shop and crochet, or raising chickens and goats to support themselves; fast forward another two decades, the 20 years itch upon our heads once again now in the 2010s, another era of post-war, another group of 20-something standing at the gate of real-life...

Childe Harolds amongst us basking "in the noontide sun" not knowing what exactly to do... well, if you need more 21st century examples, think those recent graduates from Girls, or Princeton from Avenue Q, holding a B.A. in English yet without a purpose in life.

Of course they're feeling more lonesome than a hermit (eremite).

We are informed from this stanza, that Harold has had various affairs, but only one true love. Alas, don't they ALWAYS have one true love? We also found out that Harold regrets his betrayal and wish her the best, for he's a sinner that can never be forgiven.

Of course, we can now take a bet on whether he eventually make atonement.

Disillusioned, defeated, desperate, Harold is determined leave his native land and his journey will embark. He armoured himself with pride, choosing a road less travelled than a listless still life which was making him a walking dead. 

We see the big decision Childe Harold made for himself out of despair, fighting back tears and cutting himself off from bad influences: a personal growth achieved even before setting off.

Bacchanals here means the drunken "friends" Harold once had. Bacchus, an alternative name for Dionysus.