Assignment - 1 : Gender and Narrative in the Fiction of Aphra Behn 'The Rover' :
This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 101 - Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration Periods, Sem - 1, 2024
The Rover
- Personal Information
- Assignment Details
- Introduction
- Historical and Cultural Context
- Gender Representation in The Rover
- Narrative Structure and its Gender Implications
- Feminist Reading of The Rover
- Conclusion
- References
Personal Information :
Name:- Bhumi Mahida
Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2024-2026)
Enrollment Number:- 5108240017
E-mail Address:- bhumimahida385@gmail.com
Roll Number:- 03
Assignment Details :
Topic:- Gender and Narrative in the Fiction.
Paper & subject code:- 101 - Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration Periods
Submitted to:- Smt. S.B Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar
Date of Submission:- 20th November, 2024
About Assignment:- In this assignment i define the Gender and Narrative in the Fiction of The Rover.
Introduction :
Aphra Behn (1640-1689) was an English playwright, poet, and novelist, famous for being one of the first women to earn a living from writing in the English language. She is considered an important figure in English literature, especially in the Restoration period. Her play The Rover, written in 1677, is one of her best-known works and gives us a lot to think about when it comes to gender and social roles. In The Rover, Behn presents both male and female characters who struggle with the expectations society places on them based on their gender. The play mixes romance, comedy, and adventure, and we see how the characters deal with their desires, relationships, and the rules that try to control them.
Historical and Cultural Context :
The Restoration Period
The play The Rover was written during the Restoration period, which began in 1660 when King Charles II returned to the throne after a time when England was ruled by Puritans. During this time, England saw big changes in culture and society. The court was known for its indulgence and enjoyment, with people often challenging the old, strict ideas of behavior. However, there were still clear differences between men and women, and social roles were rigidly defined. Women were expected to be obedient, modest, and focused on family life, while men had more freedom to express themselves sexually and socially.
Women Writers in the 17th Century
During the 17th century, most writers were men, and women had few opportunities to write professionally. Aphra Behn was an exception because she made a living from her writing. She was bold in her works, often writing about love, sex, and desire. The Rover reflects her interest in challenging the norms of her time, especially in how women were expected to behave. By writing about powerful and independent female characters, Behn showed that women could be as complex as men.
Gender Representation in The Rover :
In The Rover, the roles of both men and women are explored in different ways. The play shows how these characters deal with love, marriage, and their desires, and also how they are influenced by society's expectations of their gender.
Women in The Rover
Hellena – One of the central female characters in The Rover is Hellena, a young woman who is determined to have some freedom in her life. She does not want to marry the man her brother has chosen for her. Instead, she wants to explore love and desire on her own terms. Through Hellena, Behn challenges the idea that women should always be passive and obedient. Hellena’s adventurous spirit shows that women, too, can have desires and agency.
Angellica Bianca – Another important female character is Angellica Bianca, a courtesan who has a lot of power because of her beauty and sexual appeal. However, Angellica’s role in the play is also a commentary on the double standard for women. While Angellica is admired by the men around her, they also look down on her because of her profession. Behn uses Angellica’s character to show how women’s sexuality is often judged more harshly than men’s.
Florinda – Florinda is another main character who represents the more traditional view of women. She is expected to marry the man her father has chosen for her, and she is trapped in a situation where her personal wishes are ignored for the sake of her family’s honor. Her character shows the limitations placed on women during this time, where they had little say in who they married.
Men in The Rover
Willmore – Willmore is one of the male protagonists in the play. He is a carefree, adventurous man who enjoys life without worrying about the consequences. Willmore represents the idealized version of male freedom during the Restoration. He is able to pursue his desires without worrying about society's judgment, which contrasts with the restrictions placed on the female characters.
Blunt – Another male character is Blunt, who represents a less successful type of man. Blunt’s attempts to win women’s affection are often awkward, and his behavior shows the contrast between more confident men like Willmore and men who fail to understand women’s desires. Through Blunt, Behn also critiques the idea that men are always successful in their relationships with women.
The way the story is told in The Rover also has important connections to gender. Behn uses the structure of the play to show the power dynamics between men and women.
Plot and Structure of The Rover
The play is full of mistaken identities, disguises, and misunderstandings. This structure allows characters to explore their desires without being immediately judged. The confusion that arises from disguises also shows how gender can be a flexible concept, with characters sometimes switching between male and female roles or expectations.
Disguise and Deception
In The Rover, women often use disguises to take control of their situations. For example, Hellena disguises herself to go after the man she loves, and Angellica uses her appearance to control the men who want her. These disguises give the women in the play more freedom, which reflects Behn’s view that gender roles are not fixed, but can be manipulated for personal advantage.
Language and Sexual Politics
The characters in The Rover often use language to gain power over each other. The male characters use their wit and charm to attract women, while the women use their own language to challenge the men and assert their desires. The way language is used in the play highlights the connection between gender and power. The women’s ability to speak and manipulate through words shows that they are not just passive objects but active participants in the sexual politics of the play.
Feminist Reading of The Rover :
Aphra Behn’s The Rover has often been seen as a feminist work because it questions the traditional roles of women and men. The play gives female characters a voice and allows them to take charge of their own destinies.
Behn’s Feminist Voice
Behn was one of the first women writers to give her female characters complexity and independence. While some of the female characters in The Rover still follow traditional gender roles, others like Hellena and Angellica push back against these norms. They use their sexuality and wit to gain power and control over their lives, challenging the idea that women should simply follow the orders of men.
Conclusion :
In conclusion, Aphra Behn’s The Rover is a powerful examination of gender roles and societal expectations in the 17th century, where strict codes of conduct governed the behavior of men and women. Through her bold and complex characters, Behn brings attention to the limits and challenges that society imposes on both genders, as well as the small freedoms they manage to find. Women in The Rover, such as Hellena and Angellica, defy traditional expectations by actively pursuing their desires and questioning the restrictions placed on them. Hellena’s wit and determination to choose her own fate challenge the conventional idea of women as passive or obedient, while Angellica’s role as a courtesan complicates the view of women’s sexuality, revealing the double standards they face.
Meanwhile, male characters like Willmore represent the liberties granted to men and the consequences of their unchecked freedom. Through his roguish charm, Behn shows how male characters often benefit from social privileges that allow them to navigate relationships with fewer restrictions. The contrasting experiences of Behn’s characters highlight how gendered expectations shape their interactions, with both men and women struggling to negotiate their desires within the bounds of a restrictive society.
References :
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