This blog is crafted in response to Megha ma'am. This task given by her. This blog is above The rover by Aphra Behn.
Introduction:-
Aphra Behn’s play The Rover is a Restoration comedy that explores themes of love, desire, power, and societal expectations in 17th-century Europe. Written in 1677, the play follows a group of English exiles and Spanish nobles during the lively Carnival in Naples.
In The Rover, Aphra Behn explores how society often treats marriage as a transaction, where a woman’s value is tied to wealth or social status rather than love or respect. Angellica Bianca, a courtesan, sees this firsthand, as men are willing to pay for her affection but don’t see her as an equal partner. She believes marriage can be similar to prostitution because women are often “bought” in marriage through financial negotiations, not genuine feelings.
Angellica’s Perspective on Marriage and Prostitution
Angellica, a former lover of wealthy men, sees marriage as similar to prostitution. This view stems from her belief that both marriage and prostitution involve selling oneself for financial gain.
Why Does Angellica Think This Way?
In The Rover, marriage is often depicted as a business arrangement, especially for women. At the time, many women had limited choices either marry for financial security or find other ways to survive, like becoming a courtesan (a high-class woman paid for her companionship). For a courtesan like Angellica, marriage doesn’t look much different from her own situation. Both involve men paying women in some way, either through a wedding or through “gifts.”
Angellica’s experience with men has taught her that love and loyalty are not guaranteed in marriage. When she meets Willmore, she sees a chance for true affection, only to be betrayed by him, too. Her bitter experiences make her see all relationships as transactional, where women trade their bodies or lives in exchange for money or security.
Aphra Behn’s Message through Angellica
Aphra Behn was known for her bold ideas, and through Angellica, she seems to criticize a society that limits women’s choices. Behn might be saying that both marriage and prostitution are ways in which men control women. This reflection of Angellica’s views could represent Behn’s own dissatisfaction with how women were treated.
Virginia Woolf’s Tribute to Aphra Behn
Virginia Woolf once said, “All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn, for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.” In her famous essay, A Room of One’s Own, Woolf saw Behn as a trailblazer for women in literature.
Why Woolf Praised Behn
At the time, it was rare for a woman to write and publish works that challenged societal norms. Behn was groundbreaking because she wrote openly about love, desire, and the experiences of women. Her characters in The Rover, especially the women, challenge the expectations placed on them by society. Hellena, for instance, is witty and bold, refusing to accept the traditional role of a quiet, obedient woman. Florinda seeks to marry for love rather than duty, and Angellica is a complex figure who both attracts and judges men.
How Woolf’s Quote Applies to The Rover
Woolf’s admiration for Behn is reflected in the way Behn’s female characters act independently and express their desires and frustrations openly. By giving her female characters intelligence, agency, and the power to choose their own destinies, Behn paved the way for later female writers. Woolf believed that Behn’s courage in writing about real women’s experiences allowed other women writers to do the same. For instance, Hellena’s determination to marry for love, even if it means defying her family, is an act of rebellion that would have resonated with Woolf’s ideas about female independence.
The Impact of Behn’s Work
Behn’s work didn’t just entertain; it challenged social norms. By creating characters who openly speak their minds, Behn set an example for women writers, proving that their voices mattered. Woolf’s praise acknowledges Behn’s role in giving future women the confidence to pursue their ideas.
Which Female Character Best Represents Aphra Behn?
Hellena: The Rebellious Spirit
Hellena is witty, independent, and rebellious. She doesn’t want to be forced into a convent or a marriage without love. She openly questions and challenges the men around her, even joking with Willmore and challenging his views. Hellena’s bold personality and her desire for freedom make her similar to Behn, who broke the mold of her time to live independently as a writer. Just as Behn didn’t conform to societal expectations, Hellena defies her family’s wishes to choose her own path.
Florinda: The Loyal Romantic
Florinda, on the other hand, is more traditional and values love and loyalty. She is determined to marry for love, despite her family’s plan for her to marry someone wealthy. Florinda’s persistence shows her inner strength, but she is less rebellious than Hellena. Although she seeks some independence, her actions are more about preserving her virtue and securing true love. While Behn may have respected Florinda’s loyalty and virtue, Florinda’s reserved nature doesn’t align as closely with Behn’s own bold personality.
Angellica: The Realist
Angellica is complex cynical about love but deeply desiring it. She is also someone who has made her own way in life, just like Behn. However, Angellica’s bitterness and heartbreak when Willmore betrays her reveal her vulnerability. Angellica’s view of marriage and prostitution reflects Behn’s critical perspective on women’s limited options in society. In many ways, Angellica embodies Behn’s struggles as a woman who navigates male-dominated spaces. Angellica’s strength, vulnerability, and realism could represent Behn’s understanding of how society views women.
Conclusion:-
Angellica’s perspective highlights Aphra Behn’s criticism of society’s treatment of women, where marriage often reduces them to property. Through Angellica’s voice, Behn encourages readers to question these social norms and think about a woman’s worth beyond her financial or social value in a marriage.
Thank you..!!
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