Introduction:
The Restoration period in English literature (1660–1700) witnessed a surge in witty, daring, and socially observant plays. Aphra Behn, one of the first professional female playwrights, stood out for her bold exploration of gender, sexuality, and societal norms. Her play The Rover vividly portrays the interplay of love, money, and social expectations, while highlighting the struggles and agency of women in a male-dominated society. In this blog, we will explore two key ideas: the view of marriage as transactional, as expressed by Angelica, and the significance of Aphra Behn as a trailblazer for women writers, as celebrated by Virginia Woolf.
1) Angelica and the Financial Negotiations of Marriage:
In The Rover, Angelica compares the financial negotiations in marriage to prostitution. This analogy stems from her frustration with a society that reduces women’s worth to their dowries and material considerations. In Restoration England, marriages often involved discussions of wealth, status, and inheritance rather than romantic love. Angelica, who is intelligent and independent, recognizes this commodification of women and refuses to submit to it.
I agree with Angelica’s perspective, to an extent. Marriage in her context often required women to “sell” themselves for financial security, making the process transactional. However, her comparison is provocative because it emphasizes choice and autonomy: she resists the notion that a woman must accept such an arrangement passively. Behn’s play, through Angelica’s wit and defiance, critiques societal pressures while celebrating women who assert control over their personal and financial destiny.
2) Aphra Behn and Virginia Woolf’s Tribute:
Virginia Woolf, in A Room of One’s Own, suggests that “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.” This statement reflects Behn’s revolutionary role as a female playwright in a male-dominated Restoration theatre. Through The Rover, Behn not only entertained audiences but also gave voice to women’s desires, frustrations, and intelligence. Characters like Angelica and Hellena challenge traditional gender roles, question societal norms, and assert sexual and emotional agency.
I strongly agree with Woolf’s statement. Behn’s courage paved the way for women to participate in literary and artistic discourse. By portraying women as witty, resourceful, and assertive, she expanded the possibilities for female characters and inspired generations of women writers to claim their creative voices without apology.
Conclusion:
The Rover offers a fascinating glimpse into Restoration society while simultaneously critiquing it. Angelica’s sharp observation on marriage exposes the transactional nature of social expectations, while Aphra Behn’s bold authorship exemplifies the power of women to challenge norms and express themselves freely. Both perspectives remind us that literature can serve as a mirror of society and a platform for advocating personal and collective freedoms. Celebrating Behn and her characters is not just a literary gesture but a recognition of the enduring struggle for women’s agency and creative expression.
Refrence:
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