Hello,
As we know, many women writers they are gave own thought and criticize and represent on society like Mary Shelley, Aphra Behn, also Jane Austen are all pioneer writers in English literature, so here, we're going to discuss about the great novel The Rover by Aphra Behn.
This task is assigned by Professor Megha Trivedi Ma'am. And the play about women power and dignity also pride.
◼️Introduction :
➡️ First of all in answer we can understand how Aphra behn was become a successful writer in her life.
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| ...(Aphra Behn)... |
▪️Born :Canterbury, Kent, England
Baptized
14 December 1640
▪️Died : London, England
16 April 1689 (aged 48)
▪️Resting place : Westminster Abbey
▪️Occupation : Playwright, poet, prose writer, translator, spy
▪️Writing career : Language
Early Modern English
▪️Genre :Novel, roman a clef
▪️Literary movement : Restoration literature, Restoration comedy
▪️Years active : 1664–1689
▪️Notable works : 1. Oroonoko,
2.The Rover,
3. Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister
▪️Spouse : Johan Behn
➡️ Aphra Behn was a pioneering English writer, poet, and playwright of the 17th century, known as one of the first English women to make a living from writing. Her work, particularly the play The Rover, challenged social norms and explored themes of love, gender, and power. Behn is celebrated for her bold, witty writing style and her portrayal of strong female characters who defy expectations.
Aphra Behn was considered a well-known writer in the 17th century for several reasons:
🔺First Female Playwright: She was one of the first women in England to earn a living as a professional playwright. Her success in the theater was groundbreaking for women at the time.
🔺Prolific Writer: She wrote many plays, poems, and novels, gaining attention for her diverse works. Her most famous play, The Rover, is still performed today.
🔺Bold Themes: Behn tackled bold and controversial topics, like love, sexuality, and gender roles. Her writing often challenged the traditional views of women in society.
🔺Insight into Women's Lives: Her works often portrayed women as complex characters with desires and independence, which was rare in the male-dominated literature of the time.
🔺Social Commentary: Behn used her writing to comment on social and political issues, such as class differences and the role of women in marriage and society.
🔺Historical Context: She lived during a time when women's voices were often silenced, but she carved a place for herself in literature, becoming a pioneer for future female writers.
Because of her trailblazing career, Aphra Behn was recognized as a significant and respected writer in her time.
[ THE ROVER ]
The Rover is a comedy play written by Aphra Behn, first performed in 1677. It is set during the Carnival season in Naples, Italy, where the main characters are involved in love, mischief, and mistaken identities.
➡️ The play centers around the story of two young women, Hellena and Florinda, who are in love but face obstacles. Hellena is forbidden to marry before her sister, Florinda, but she is determined to find a lover. Florinda is being forced into a marriage with a man she doesn't love. Meanwhile, two roguish characters, Willmore (the "Rover") and Belvile, also fall in love with these women.
The Rover, Willmore, is a charming and daring man who spends his time pursuing women, while Belvile is more noble and serious. There are lots of humorous situations involving disguises, love triangles, and misunderstandings, all set against the backdrop of a lively carnival.
➡️ In simple terms, The Rover is a story about love, freedom, and the playful chaos of attraction, with a mix of romance and humor. Behn uses the play to explore themes of desire, liberty, and the roles of women in society, all while entertaining the audience with witty dialogue and lively characters.
Question - 1
Angellica considers the financial negotiations that one makes before marrying a prospective bride the same as prostitution. Do you agree?
Answer :-
➡️ In The Rover, Angellica Bianca, a beautiful and skilled courtesan, speaks openly about the way society treats women, especially in matters of marriage and money. She argues that the financial negotiations around marriage are similar to prostitution. Her view suggests that, like prostitution, marriage can reduce women to commodities, with financial gain being central to the arrangement. In both cases, she sees women being valued not for their personhood but for what they can provide financially or socially.
Angellica’s comparison highlights the limited options women had at the time, and her perspective raises important questions about whether marriage and courtship can strip away individual choice and turn love into a transaction. While some might see marriage as an opportunity for companionship and mutual support, Angellica points out that when money becomes a central factor, it can distort genuine emotions and exploit women’s dependency on men for financial security.
Question - 2
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.” Virginia Woolf said so in ‘A Room of One’s Own’. Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer with reference to your reading of the play ‘The Rover’.
Answer :-
➡️ Yes, I agree with Virginia Woolf’s statement that women should honor Aphra Behn for helping them gain the freedom to express themselves. Behn was one of the first women in English literature to earn her living as a writer, which was rare and groundbreaking in the 1600s. Woolf admired her because Behn showed that women could have a voice in the public world, proving that women could be just as capable as men in writing and creativity.
➡️ In The Rover, Behn writes strong, clever female characters who challenge the traditional roles expected of women. For example, Hellena doesn’t want to be forced into a nunnery, so she decides to explore love and life on her own terms. She is bold and goes after what she wants, showing that women can be independent and have desires just like men. This was a radical idea in Behn’s time, as women were often expected to be obedient and silent.
Behn’s play also questions the unfair treatment of women, especially regarding love and freedom. While men were allowed more freedom, women were judged for similar desires. By giving her female characters courage and intelligence, Behn shows that women deserve equal freedom and respect.
↪️ Aphra Behn’s life and work proved that a woman could write, earn money, and have an impact. She opened doors for women writers after her, inspiring them to speak their minds. So, when Woolf says women “ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn,” she means that women should be grateful for Behn’s courage and for making it easier for women to have their voices heard.
The Rover is a comedic and highly sexualized play, set during the carnival in Naples, where characters engage in romantic and sexual escapades. Central to the play is the character of Hellena, a young woman who defies the expectations of her society by seeking out romance and pleasure on her own terms. Through Hellena and other female characters, Behn presents a nuanced view of women’s desires and agency, which was a radical perspective at the time. Unlike many of the women portrayed in other plays of the period, Behn’s female characters are not passive victims but active participants in their stories.
One of the key moments in The Rover is Hellena’s determination to marry for love, not convenience or societal expectation. She defies her brother’s wishes and takes control of her fate, choosing her own suitor rather than being subjected to an arranged marriage. This decision reflects Behn's view of women as individuals capable of making choices about their own lives and bodies, which was a significant departure from the patriarchal conventions of her time.
Question - 3
Which female character best represents the playwright, Aphra Behn? Consider the characteristics and beliefs of each female character, and make an argument that relates these distinctive attributes to what you know about Behn.
Answer :-
➡️ The character in The Rover who best represents Aphra Behn is Hellena. Hellena shares many of the qualities that Behn herself was known for: boldness, wit, independence, and a strong desire to live life freely. Here are some key ways Hellena reflects Behn’s personality and beliefs:
🔹Desire for Freedom: Hellena does not want to be forced into a nunnery, which was her family’s plan for her. She wants to experience life, love, and adventure. This reflects Behn’s own desire for freedom and her refusal to follow society’s strict rules for women. Behn broke the norms by becoming a professional writer, which was unusual and even shocking for a woman of her time.
🔹Wit and Cleverness: Hellena is witty, sharp, and clever in her conversations. She is not afraid to challenge men and to stand up for herself, often outsmarting those around her. Similarly, Behn was known for her intelligence and her ability to use humor and wit in her writing, especially to criticize the unfair treatment of women. Like Hellena, Behn used her intelligence to make a place for herself in a man’s world.
🔹Boldness in Love: Hellena openly pursues her romantic interests, showing that she is unafraid to follow her heart. She sets her sights on Willmore and goes after him with determination, showing that she values her own choices in love. Behn was also bold in her personal and professional life, not hiding her beliefs about love and passion. She often wrote openly about relationships and women’s desires, which was daring for a female writer.
🔹Desire to Break Social Boundaries: Hellena questions the traditional roles assigned to women and challenges the idea that women should be obedient and controlled. Behn, in her writing and life, also pushed against these boundaries. By working as a writer, she proved that a woman could have a voice and that women could make a living in a male-dominated field.
🔹Strong Sense of Self: Throughout The Rover, Hellena is determined to be herself, making her own choices despite what others think. She doesn’t let society define her, and she’s willing to take risks to live the life she wants. Behn’s career itself was an example of this attitude. She didn’t let social judgment stop her from writing or expressing her ideas.
➡️ In these ways, Hellena represents the spirit of Aphra Behn: independent, witty, and brave enough to go against society’s expectations. Through Hellena, Behn likely expressed her own beliefs about women’s rights to live freely and speak openly. Hellena’s boldness and quest for self-discovery mirror Behn’s own courage and influence as one of the first women to break into the world of literature.
This YouTube video through we can easily understand the character of Hellena that represent as Aphra Behn's character of 17th century about the women conditions and power.
◼️Conclusion :
Throughout the all details on play The Rover : The banished Cavaliers. This play write by Aphra behn they put in play many significant situation of 17th century time as part of play.
◼️Reference :
“The Rover (Play).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Oct. 2024, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rover_(play). Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
"Portrayal of Women in The Rover." Guiding Literature, 29 Nov. 2024, www.guidingliterature.com/portrayal-of-women-in-the-rover/. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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