Aphra Behn’s The Rover

 

1) Does Angellica's View on Financial Negotiations Before Marriage as Prostitution Hold Any Truth?

Angellica, a character in Aphra Behn's The Rover, compares financial negotiations before marriage to prostitution. She suggests that when marriage involves dowries, prenuptial agreements, or other financial exchanges, it becomes a transactional relationship rather than one based on love. Let’s break down the points for and against her perspective.

Points in Favor of Angellica’s View:

• Transactional Nature: In many marriages, financial terms such as dowries or prenups play a large role. This can make the relationship seem like a business arrangement, similar to prostitution where a financial exchange takes place for personal gain.
• Commodification of Love: When financial aspects take precedence over emotions, it can reduce marriage to a commercial transaction, turning love into something commodified.
• Power Imbalance: Financial negotiations can create a power imbalance, with one party (usually the wealthier one) having more control, similar to the power dynamics seen in prostitution.
• Loss of Romantic Ideals: Introducing financial terms into marriage may undermine the romantic and emotional connection, making the union seem more like a financial deal than a genuine partnership.

Points Against Angellica’s View:

• Practical Considerations: Financial discussions can help ensure both partners are financially secure and plan for a stable future together.
• Protection of Interests: Prenuptial agreements can protect both parties and prevent future disputes, ensuring fairness if the marriage ends.
• Cultural Norms: In many cultures, financial negotiations are a traditional part of marriage and are not seen as diminishing love or respect.
• Distinction in Intent: The purpose of financial arrangements in marriage is to ensure a stable, supportive future, whereas prostitution is a temporary, transactional exchange.

• 2) Virginia Woolf’s Praise of Aphra Behn: Do You Agree?

  Virginia Woolf famously 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.” Woolf praises Behn for being one of the first women to make a living from writing, defying societal conventions of her time. In The Rover, we see how Behn’s characters—particularly the women—express their desires, opinions, and frustrations, which was radical at the time.

  Aphra Behn’s Legacy in The Rover and Beyond:

  • Empowerment: In The Rover, characters like Hellena and Angellica boldly express their desires and challenge societal norms. Behn’s portrayal of these strong, independent women reflects her own defiance against the expectations placed on women in her time.
  • Challenging Patriarchy: Behn’s work highlights women’s agency in a world where they were often silenced. Hellena, for example, rejects her family's plan for her to become a nun and actively seeks out love and freedom.
  • Literary Influence: By writing openly about female desire and breaking the silence, Behn opened doors for future generations of women writers. Her works paved the way for authors like Jane Austen and George Eliot, who also used literature to address the issues of women’s rights and social expectations.

  • 3) Which Female Character Best Represents Aphra Behn?

    In The Rover, Hellena is the character who best represents Aphra Behn herself. Hellena is bold, witty, and independent, much like Behn, who defied societal expectations and pursued a career as a writer. Let’s look at why Hellena mirrors Behn’s own qualities.

    Hellena’s Key Characteristics:

    • Rejection of Societal Norms: Hellena is determined to reject her family’s plans to make her a nun. She desires to explore love and freedom on her own terms, which echoes Behn’s own defiance against the roles society expected women to play.
    • Wit and Charm: Hellena uses her intelligence and charm to navigate the world around her. Behn, known for her sharp wit and clever writing, portrays this same quality in Hellena.
    • Independence: Hellena is not just passive; she actively pursues what she wants, much like Behn, who took control of her own career and life choices.
    • Desire for Love: Like Behn, who wrote about human desires and relationships, Hellena is passionate about love and is not afraid to seek it, even when the man she desires is a rake.