Presentation_101 Aphra Behn's The Rover_ A Subversive Challenge to Social Norms.pptx

Aphra Behn's The Rover_ A Subversive Challenge to Social Norms

1. -: SUBJECT:- Aphra Behn's The Rover: A Subversive Challenge to Social Norms

2. NAME:- HARDI VHORA SEM:- 1 BATCH:- 2023-2025 PAPER NO. :- 101 ROLL NO. :- 14 PAPER CODE:- 22392 PAPER NAME:- Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration Periods SUBMITTED TO:- Smt. S.B. Gardi, Department Of English MKBU e-mail:- [email protected] ENROLLMENT NO. :- 5108230050

3. # Points To Ponder:- > Introduction of Aphra Behn > Introduction of ‘The Rover’ > Subversion Of Gender Roles > Moralit and Class Hierarchy > Conclusion

4. BORN:- 1640?,Harbledown?, Kent, England DIED:- April 16, 1689, London OCC UPATION :- English dramatist, fiction writer, and poet [T he First Englishwoman known to earn her living by writing.] NOTA BLE WORKS :- Oroonoko :- The Rover

5. # Introduction Of The Rover:- The Rover, or, The Banished Cavaliers is the most popular pla y by the Restoration playwright (and spy) Aphra Behn, first performed in 1677. Although Behn’s work as a spy for Charles II came to a sudden end with a spell in debtor’s prison, she was a stout Royalist, and the title refers to Charles’ supporters, who were living in exile on the Continent. In the tradition of Restoration comedy, the play follows the wild exploits of a group of English gentlemen in Naples at Carnival time, although many of the tropes of the genre are subverted to an extent which sent shockwaves through the theatre world. Behn’s infamous libertine Willmore was an instant hit, and The Rover catapulted her to overnight fame, and brought her an income from the box office, making her one of the first women to earn a living by their pen.'All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn which is, most scandalously but rather appropriately, in Westminster Abbey, for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds.'—Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own

6. # Subversion Of Gender Roles:- In these female characters (like Hellena and Florinda) are commodified and objectified by the hand of masculine capitalistic ideology. Women have been treated as mere objects to be consumed in the market in order to fulfill physical and spiritual satisfaction. Likewise, the agents of male oriented capitalistic society, captain Willmore and Don Antonio, who have gained incredible power and authority through market economy, must reconcile their governing power and their humanity.

7. # Moral ity and Class Hierarchy :- Aphra Behn's play "The Rover" explores the themes of morality and class hierarchies within the context of 17th-century society. Set during the carnival in Naples, the play revolves around the adventures of a group of Englishmen and women, highlighting the conflicts and complexities that arise when societal norms clash with personal desires.One of the central aspects of morality depicted in the play is the tension between societal expectations and individual freedom. Behn challenges the conventional morality of her time by presenting characters who challenge traditional gender roles and pursue their desires. For instance, the character of Hellena, a young woman from a noble family, rebels against her brother's plans to force her into a loveless marriage. Instead, she disguises herself as a gypsy and ventures into the carnival to experience freedom and love on her terms. This subversion of gender roles and defiance of societal norms demonstrate Behn's critique of the restrictive morality imposed on women.

8. # Conclusion:- Aphra Behn 's “The Rover” is a compelling play that delve into themes of love , societal constraints, offering a vivid exploration of human nature and complexities of relationships. Though it's Complex characters and witty dialogue, Behn Offers a thought provoking commentary of her time making “The Rover” a timeless and enduring work of literature.

9. # References:- https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?hl=en&publication_year=1996&author=Aphra+Behn&title=The+Rover%2C+or+the+Banished+Cavaliers. Accessed 30 October 2023. https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?hl=en&publication_year=1996&author=Aphra+Behn&title=The+Rover%2C+or+the+Banished+Cavaliers. Accessed 30 October 2023. Timsina, Devendra. “DSpace at Tribhuvan University Central Library (TUCL): Subversion of Patriarchal Codes in Aphra Behn's The Rover.” TUCK eLibrary, https://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/handle/123456789/16195. Accessed 30 October 2023 .