She struggles as he attempts to assault her. King Charles II was himself a fan of The Rover, and received a private showing of the play. It surrounds two sisters Hellena and Florinda. Meanwhile, Blunt is tricked out of his money and clothes by Lucetta. Willmore begins to harass Florinda and she exits. This new edition contains a completely new introduction, and takes into account important criticism from the past decade, as well as a new understanding of the nature of theatre in Behn's time, and the significance of her contribution to English drama. Angellica decides to let Willmore live, and leaves. Don Pedro wins and unlocks Florinda's door. Belville, Blunt, Frederick, and Willmore are also enjoying Carnival when they run into Florinda, Hellena, and Valeria (their cousin). The other men, unaware that the girl is Florinda, decide to let her out and have their way with her. Belvile realizes that he is speaking to Antoniohis rival for Florindas handand reacts with dismay. Bank Street Theatre, New School, NYC (2008) Directed by Erica Gould. Angelica vows revenge. Later that evening, Florinda enters her familys garden in her nightgown and unlocks the door for Belvile. Once he is gone, Florinda removes her mask. She refuses and, realizing that she is his gypsy girl, Willmore resolves to torment her. This essay is the second of four distilled from a lecture series on Aphra Behn given by Dr. Abigail Williams of the University of Oxford and adapted for the Great Writers Inspire project by Kate O'Connor. Premiering in Read More 1 2 The Rover. She agrees, despite the warnings from her maidservant Moretta. Angelica: Dost thou not know thy Life is in my power? Antonio falls, wounded. Willmore believes he has killed Antonio and runs off. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. After becoming a spy for the English monarchy (also in the mid-1660s), Behn was deeply in debt; in fact, a warrant was even issued for her arrest. Simultaneously, Frederick courts Valeria, while Florinda attempt to discern whether or not Belvile is faithful to her by tempting him with jewels. Using the concept of the repertoire as a frame for situated . The way the content is organized, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. /Length 2596 Refine any search. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." With the introduction of actresses came the breeches role, in which a plot twist required a female character to disguise herself as a boysuch a twist takes place in The Rover when Hellena disguises herself as a servant boy in order to spy on Willmore. Virginia Woolf praised Aphra Behn in the book A Room of Ones Own, whom she believed earned [women] the right to speak their minds, and paved the way for all female authors who followed her. Stephano reveals that the duel is for her honor and she becomes upset, believing that Pedro is fighting against Belvile. The Rover overview. Behn uses traditional poetic language and form to capture the modern hope of equality for women. As the other couples dance, Hellena and Willmore admit that they are frightened to marry each other, but resolve to do so anyway. The "gender-bending production will make selective use of nudity", This page was last edited on 28 June 2022, at 13:12. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Directed by Nicole Stodard (8 February 3 March 2013). ANGELLICA BIANCA, a famous Courtesan in Spain who returns to Naples to put herself up for sale. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Seeing both men (along with Wilmore), the women put on their masks. The Rover The Rover Research and teaching Departments and schools English About Us TeacherHub>English Teaching Resources The Rover The Rover Share Professor Judith Hawley on Aphra Behn's The Rover Key points Quotations Suggested passages Further reading Web links Other works Downloadable resource Department English Belville sends a boy to fetch a priest. Cromwell had banned all theater during his reign, and Restoration Comedy stood in direct defiance to his austere, severe beliefs, embracing extravagance, vulgarity, and immorality. 212481) Summary of the Poem Aphra Behn's poem "The Disappointment" offers a scandalous tale presented in a charming and traditionally poetic way. However, she has feelings for Belville, an English colonel. Your question is involved, as money and class are both tied to marriage and retaining or gaining status. Harold Bloom. Then Hellena arrives and sees Willmore pursuing this "unknown" woman. Belvile, imprisoned in Antonios house, is surprised when the Spaniard gives him a sword. The girls scheme to escape, accompanied by their cousin Valeria. Blunt then attempts to rape her based on his new contempt for women. Willmore informs him that the deed is done and threatens Pedro, saying that he will kidnap the Spaniard if he does not bless Florindas marriage. -Graham S. Restoration Comedy came into being in England after the overthrow of Oliver Cromwells republican government (which itself came after the execution of Charles I in 1649) and the reestablishment of the monarchy in 1660. A non-stop party filled with music, masked revelry, and scandal leaves all struggling to find true love and define identity in an uncertain world . Pedro and Belville seem to be having a serious conversation. Loveday Ingram directed this masterpiece of Restoration comedy. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Hellena enters, still in boy's clothes, and banters with Willmore, who wants to sleep with her but doesn't want to marry her. Actor Joseph Millson describes the story of Aphra Behn's play, The Rover, Photos and biographies of the cast and creatives of The Rover, Watch the feature trailer for Aphra's Behn's The Rover, Photos from Loveday Ingram's production of The Rover, Photos of the cast of The Rover in rehearsal, The RSC is a registered charity (no. Florinda stops them again just as Belville disarms Pedro. Hearing his sisters name, Pedro is upsethis friend is his rival for Angelicas affections, and does not care for his sister. Original publication. Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures. {{{;}#tp8_\. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Hellena enters dressed as a pageboy, and tells Angelica that she comes from a noblewoman who loves Willmore. Willmore appears to switch his focus from Angelica back to Hellena, while Belvile yet again does not realize that he has been talking all along to his beloved. Blunt enters in a Spanish habit, looking ridiculous. Angellica enters, pointing a pistol at Willmore; she rages at him while threatening him with the gun. Instant PDF downloads. Angelica has not only slept with Willmore, but also given him moneya double victory for the penniless, lusty cavalier. (including. Her contemporary reputation was founded primarily on her "scandalous" plays, which she claimed would not have been criticized for impropriety had a man written them. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Although she died poor, and suffering terribly from rheumatoid arthritis, her fame was so great that she was buried in Westminster Abbey. The ladylike Florinda is in love with the noble but impoverished British cavalier Belvile while witty Hellena is supposed to become a nun, but longs for love. As they exit, Belvile draws his sword on Willmore, who runs away just as Angelica enters with her servants. The two men duel; the Englishmen part them, but the Spaniards resolve to fight the next day at a public square, the Molo. For an indepth look at this subject, check out GradeSaver's theme page, specifically, the section titled, Love, courtship, and marriage. Oh hadst thou still been so, Id livd in safety. Willmore is intrigued by this blithe and unexpected attitude, unused to meeting a woman whom he cannot seduce and betray. They draw swords to see who has the longest. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Willmore pulls down a picture of Angelica. Hellena asks what Willmore was doing in Angellica's house; he denies that anything transpired. Angellica's servants hang up a portrait of her outside of her house. Check out Gender roles and female agency in the GradeSaver link below: The title, The Rover, indicated that the play is a tribute. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the play The Rover by Aphra Behn. Although Frederick is reasonable and intelligent, he is not as noble and faithful as Belvile, who, meanwhile, yet again does not know that he is speaking to a disguised Florinda. Willmore (who may have been a parallel to Charles II or John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester) proved to be an extremely popular character, and four years later Behn wrote a sequel to the play. Although Angelica is in love with Willmore, she is still a powerful woman, able to discover activities that he wishes to keep secret, and to revenge herself. 1640-1689. Meanwhile, Lucetta begins to seduce Blunt. Willmore comes out and brags about having enjoyed Angellica's charms for free. Complete your free account to request a guide. Instant PDF downloads. Belville, furious at being thwarted yet again, turns on Willmore and chases him away. "[3] This resembled the reception that Behn's Rover received as well, and resulted in The Rover disappearing from the stage until the late 1970s. No reviews. Antonio is also struck by Angellica's portrait and wonders out loud if he could get away with sleeping with Angellica and still marry Florinda. Teachers and parents! The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Wit and Language appears in each scene of. Aphra Behn (1640-1689) : uvres (60 ressources dans data.bnf.fr) uvres textuelles (51) Maximes (2012) avec Aphra Behn (1640-1689) comme Traducteur Oroonoko The Aphra Behn and the Burney Society Conferences conferences/2017 Conference Sche An anarchic restoration comedy rich with seduction, intrigue and danger. Reservations required. "The Rover Summary". For a rakish man like Willmore, marriage is the ultimate defeat, because it would force him to be faithful to only one woman. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. As they tease him, he reveals that he has taken a woman prisoner, showing off her jewel, which Belvile recognizes. The Rover; or, the Banish'd Cavaliers. Instant PDF downloads. It was then that Behn began writing plays (she also wrote poetry and fiction). New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1989. Florinda's letter contains instructions for Belville to come to her garden at ten that night and carry her off. Written by England's first professional female playwright Aphra Behn, the two-part Restoration play is a non-stop party filled with masked revelry and scandal. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. The Rover or The Banish'd Cavaliers is a play in two parts that is written by the English author Aphra Behn. Struggling with distance learning? Hellena also exits, and Willmore vows to find her. With Angelica in love with Willmore, she has lost the ability to make money, because she will no longer sleep with her clients. Struggling with distance learning? Willmore, who adores beauty, is genuinely moved by her fairness, and feels more attracted to her than ever. Angelica decides to show contempt for Willmore by letting him live. Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, Aberystwyth University, Wales (2010) Directed by Richard Cheshire. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Aphra Behn, one of the most influential dramatists of the late 17th century, was also a celebrated poet and novelist. Belville, Blunt and Frederick have come to retrieve Willmore from Angellica because he has been inside with her for two hours. The Rover: Summary, Themes & Aphra Behn | StudySmarter English Literature Dramatists The Rover The Rover The Rover American Drama A Raisin in the Sun Aeschylus Amiri Baraka Antigone Arcadia Tom Stoppard August Wilson Cat on a Hot Tin Roof David Henry Hwang Dutchman Edward Albee Eugene O'Neill Euripides European Drama Fences August Wilson While their father is away, they are under the watchful eye of their brother, Don Pedro. Suduiko, Aaron ed. Belville, Willmore, Frederick, and Pedro break into Blunt's room and laugh at him. She is saved when Valeria arrives and persuades Pedro to leave by telling him that Callis knows where Florinda is hiding. 2. She begs him spare Pedro. Angelica orders one of her servants to follow Hellena and discover her identity. 2 0 obj The two pause when she offers them a jewel to prove her wealth, and mentions Belviles name. Wilmore greets him by embrace. This obsession with wit and language reflects the atmosphere of seventeenth-century England. The men worry about Willmores fate; Hellena grows curious. Enraged against women, he attempts to rape her, and asks Frederick to help. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Teachers and parents! Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Yet when Hellena emerges in her gypsy disguise, he immediately begins flirting with her again. Bing Theatre, University of Southern California (2009) Directed by Stefan Novinski. This edition takes account of recent critical approaches as well as of the play's recent stage history. Pedro believes that this is a sign of Antonios love for Florinda, and gives his now unmasked sister to his opponent. Finally, the third major plot of the play concerns English countryman Blunt, a naive and vengeful man who becomes convinced that a girl, Lucetta, has fallen in love with him. << Hellena plays the situation expertly, continuing to show Willmore how little she cares for him even as she finds an excuse to show him her lovely face. Weitzenhoffer Theatre, University of Oklahoma (2008). Meanwhile, Lucetta, a prostitute, plots with her pimp Sancho to rob the wealthy Blunt. The Mask of Marriage: Virtue, Honor, Reputation and Female Identity in the Sexual Economy of The Rover; The Use of the Fantasy Genre in Behn's The Rover and More's Utopia Don Pedro enters and sees the picture and the price. Le milieu des annes 1670 . Behn was a staunch supporter of the monarchy, and spied for King Charles II after he came back into power. Hellena attempts to argue. According to Restoration poet John Dryden, it "lacks the manly vitality of Killigrew's play, but shows greater refinement of expression." Pedro challenges Antonio to a duel the next day over Angellica. 271-82. Hellena views love differently than her female relatives, viewing it as a valuable life experience that she has now gained. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the play The Rover by Aphra Behn. Hellena uses her wit and her disguise to trap Willmore in a lie, revealing that she knows that he has been with the notorious Angelica. Willmore stays behind to guard against Pedro's return. Hellena enters disguised as a man. Belville lays his sword at Florinda's feet and swears his love to her. Florinda runs in to stop them. Saint of my own to pray to shortly, if I like any that dares venture on me. FREDERICK, English Gentleman, Friend to Belville and Blunt. The Englishmen enter without Willmore, and the girls hide. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. The Rover Act 3, Scene 1 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts The Rover by Aphra Behn Upgrade to A + Intro Plot Summary Summary & Analysis Themes Quotes Characters Symbols Theme Wheel Teachers and parents! Plays were judged based solely by their facility with language rather than the inventiveness of their plots or the morality of their lessons. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Willmore follows Florinda when she walks past, again thinking she is a courtesan. The play ends with vows of love between Hellena and Willmore. One of Aphra Behn's most successful and celebrated plays, The Rover is a classic Restoration comedy, dealing with the romantic intrigues of a group of English gentlemen on holiday in Naples over carnival weekend. Valeria reveals that she has contacted Belvile, and that he will stall Pedro. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Despite temptation from all sides, Belvile refuses to be unfaithful to Florinda, proving his nobility. @Rt CXCP%CBH@Rf[(t CQhz#0 Zl`O828.p|OX Belvile and Frederick enter, also masked, and pull Willmore off of Florindaenraged, he draws his sword. Willmore offers to pay her for her services; she refuses. The Rover- Aphra Behn; Unit 4 - The Book of Job and St. Matthew . Willmore: By Heaven Angelica: Hold, do not damn thy self Hellena: Nor hope to be believd. When Sebastian reenters with Willmore, she berates him, accusing him of courting Hellena for money. In 1670, her first play, The Forc'd Marriage, was performed, and she became the first professional woman playwright. An extraordinarily popular example of Restoration comedy, the play earned an extended run, enabling Behn to make a fair income from it, receiving the proceeds from the box office every third night. Hellena: If you should prevail with my tender Heart (as I begin to fear you will, for you have horrible loving Eyes) there will be difficulty int that youll hardly undergo for my sake. 2023 She hastily gives him a letter and runs off with Hellena and Valeria. CALLIS, Governess to Florinda and Hellena in charge of overseeing the girls and making sure they stay out of trouble. Refine any search. The embrace makes Belville drop his mask. University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada (2008). Department of Theatre, Randolph College, Lynchburg, Virginia (2010) Directed by Grant Mudge. (including. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Ed. The original full title, The Rover; or, The Banish'd Cavaliers, indicates that the play was a tribute to the formerly exiled cavalier and newly reinstated king, Charles II. The Rover played in the Swan Theatre in 2016, a fusion of sights and sounds, whirling music, cultural tension, dubious romance and dilapidated beauty. Complete your free account to request a guide. 2014. Performed in 1677, Aphra Behn 's play, The Rover, speaks to this double standard, which limited her female peers' sexual desires to the realm of convent, brothel, or home. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Florinda and Valeria have escaped from Don Pedro, and are attempting to find the Englishmen. Pedro, Belville, Florinda, Frederick, and Valeria enter. Meanwhile, Pedro orders the girls governess, Callis, to keep Hellena from the Carnival. Florinda enters, sees Blunt and asks him for help. When he enters Lucettas chamber, she uses the darkness to slip out and open a trapdoor, through which Blunt falls. The final cut of Kemble's piece saw most of the plot that was pertaining to sex, removed. Even though Hellena knows that the cavalier is lying, she values his wit more than she values his honesty, demonstrating the gap between truth and appearance. Fearful for her brothers life, Florinda intercedes, begging Belvile to stop in the name of his love; he does so immediately. He tells Hellena to go back to her mistress. Florinda is the sister who is in the middle of a predicament . Paperback. Drawn to the commotion, Don Pedro enters with his guards, Florinda flees, and the Spaniards force the Englishmen out. Teachers and parents! Joyful and victorious, Willmore still seems to have forgotten about his seemingly strong feelings for Hellena. How full of Questions! PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem.