Women and Sexuality in Aphra Behns Poems Essay - 1967 Words

Women and Sexuality in Aphra Behns Poems All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of AphraBehn, . . . for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds. (Woolf 91) Born in 1640, AphraBehn broke gender stereotypes when she undertook a thrilling (if unrewarded) life as a spy for the Crown, but it was her scandalous career as an author which truly achieved many firsts for women. She was the first woman to supporthereself financially by solely relying on the profession of writing, and many readers argue that Oroonoko--her passionate tale about the institution of slavery--was the first English novel. She was certainly one of the first female authors†¦show more content†¦Likewise pursued, in The Disappointment, Behns young virginal maiden takes her sexual destiny into her own hands (literally), leaving her would-be lover impotent, an outcast from what used to be his realm of power. Thus in The Willing Mistress and The Disappointment, Behn confers power to women by creating an environment of sexual freedom in which female sexuality is natural, strong, comfortable, and driven by pure desire. In the Middle Ages, if a woman wanted to express herself in writing, she was limited to expressions of religious faith, as were Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe. Any rapture described in the literature of this period was usually reserved for Christ, prompted by the ecstatic realization of an eternal life. In the 16th and 17th centuries, women writers were still largely limited in how they were permitted to express themselves. While writing about love became more socially acceptable, most examples still presented a romanticized perspective in which passion was inextricably linked to emotional involvement. There are glimpses of sexuality, such as when Anne Bradstreet in A Letter to Her Husband, Absent Upon Public Employment refers to her children as those fruits which through [her husbands] heat I bore and yearns for him to return and warm her chilled limbs (Lines 14; 11). However, even thisShow MoreRelatedThe Rights Of Female Sexuality1626 Words   |  7 Pagesextravagant spending. While men during the period enjoyed the libertine culture that was introduced, women continued to be restrained by boundaries that had constricted their social and sexual freedom for centuries. Aphra Behn, the first woman in England to identify as a professional writer, challenged sexual inequality by reforming the female image through literature. She addresses themes of female desire, sexuality, and homosexuality in amatory fiction such as â€Å"To the Fair Clorinda†,†The Willing Mistress†Read MoreThe Feminist: Aphra Behn Essay786 Words   |  4 PagesIn the 17th century a writer named Aphra Behn emerged as leader in English literature. With a shaky beginning, Behn persevered to become the first female professional writer. With her feminist opinions, she revolutionized writing and her impacts in the 17th century would ch ange modern day writing. Behn was a clever writer who wrote lively, vibrant plays and poetry. Behn impacted the world, not only with her writing, but also with her determination and voice about her feminist opinions. Behn showedRead MoreThe Disappointment By Virginia Woolf Essay1885 Words   |  8 Pagesthat â€Å"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† (66). Since then, it seems that the Restoration author has been deemed the one of first true feminists. Many argue that this is apparent both in her being the first woman author to support herself with her writing as well as her critique of gender and their assigned roles within her works. And while Behn has without a doubt inspired countless women to takeRead MoreThe Is The Romantic And / Or Sexual Attraction For More Than One Gender1320 Words   |  6 Pagesbisexual are attracted to male, female, and sometimes the non -binary genders. Non-binary genders can include those who are transgender, agender, and genderfluid. Bisexuality is a separate sexuality from pansexuality. Pansexuality which is the romantic and/or sexual attraction to all genders. Like the sexuality and gender spectrums bisexuality is also a spectrum. One can be bisexual but only desire those of the male and female gender. 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However, the widespread problematic belief that women are simply the passive, powerless victims of male power is oversimplified and outdated. Power relations, as theorized by Foucault in ‘The History of Sexuality’ are far more complex; the dynamic is ever-changing, from moment to moment and therefore anyRead MoreRochester s Radical Gender Roles1249 Words   |  5 Pagescomplete political or social reform. Departing from tradition; new† (Soanes 740). When using this definition, both Aphra Behn’s work, â€Å"The Disappointment† and John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester’s work, â€Å"The Imperfect Enjoyment† are easily interpreted as such. Both poems discuss sexuality and gender in new, sometimes shocking ways. Behn’s poem offers astoundingly liberal views on female sexuality, considering the time period. Despite the radical notions and expletives present, Rochester’s pushes the envelopeRead MoreThe Disappointment By Aphra Behn1367 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout â€Å"The Disappointment†, Aphra Behn critics the established gender roles in the society particularly sexually. This can be seen in the relationship between Lisander who is the male figure and Cloris who is the female one. In this poem, Cloris can be seen as the object of desire while Lisander can be seen as the sexual object which challenges the pre-established roles in society. The first stanza reveals a side of Lisander that shows that he does not have a complete control on his body. IndeedRead MoreImoindas Modernity: Aphra Behns Enactment of Conjugal Marriage in Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave3146 Words   |  13 PagesIMOINDA’S MODERNITY: APHRA BEHN’S ENACTMENT OF CONJUGAL MARRIAGE IN OROONOKO, OR THE ROYAL SLAVE Aphra Behn depicts Imoinda, the object of the prince’s love in Oroonoko, Or The Royal Slave (1688), as exotic in her person, potent in her sexuality, but highly conventional in her domestic aspirations. While she has only limited ownership of her body, she operates within the limits of her status to secure the love of Prince Oroonoko, and then to defend their union, even at great risk to herself, and