The Rover Assignment

Name- Vivek Singh
Roll No.-21/1303
English Hons. SEM 3
Discuss the importance of the carnival in the context of the play The Rover by
Aphra Ben.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689) is a late admission to the canon of English studies. She lived
an unusual life and wrote remarkably in different genres, drama, fiction, poetry and
literary criticism. But though she won literary recognition in her own days, her work was
ignored as being unfit to be read for over two centuries thereafter. It was only in the
twentieth century that she started receiving attention as a major writer. As one of the first
English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barriers and served
as a literary role model for later generations of women authors.
Her best-known play today, The Rover, was probably also the most successful in her
own time. It was often revived and many times reprinted in the first half of the 18th
century. A large cast of characters becomes deeply involved in scenes of disloyalty,
seduction, misrepresentation, and elaborate swordplay set in 17th-century Italy. These
scenes, in addition to many comedic episodes, create tension and confusion. The
setting, Venice during Carnival, is crucial to the plot for a number of reasons: As was
customary, masks allowed for freedom from normal constraints, a fast pace that kept the
audience engaged, and confusion "captures the spirit of the carnival" because identities
are frequently misinterpreted in the play.
The rich mixing with the poor broke down class barriers during carnival times. In order to
safeguard the wealthy's identities, it became necessary to adopt the carnival masking
custom. In addition, this provided opportunities for them to act in a different way than
usual. Behn is able to free her female characters from their traditional roles as women
and empower them by hiding them behind masks. In effect, they are able to adopt new
personalities and free themselves from the usual constraints imposed on them by a
society dominated by men.
Hellena is a great example of someone who puts aside her inhibitions and puts on a
mask to show who she really is. She decides that this carnival will be the time she finds
a man, and she sets her sights on one who is as daring and quick-witted as herself. She
is scheduled to go to the convent so that her father can consolidate the family's finances.
She can follow him in various camouflages and at one point decides to "vex" him for his
keeping with Angellica. In a time when women had few personal rights, she
demonstrates that she is a strong, independent woman. She has the freedom to act the
way she does because of the carnival environment.
Mistaken identities are also caused by the carnival setting. Behn is able to advance the
comedy and suspense elements by creating this confusion. Don Antonio, Don Pedro's
friend and the man he wants to marry, accepts Don Pedro's offer to be with Angellica but
denies him the chance to do so. Don Pedro is even more enraged by the fact that this is
a slight against Florinda, his sister, which ultimately sets the stage for a duel. Naturally,
Don Antonio's conversation with Don Pedro gives him the impression that he is
confronting Belvile. Ironically, when Belvile helps Don Antonio later, he is actually
accused of inflicting injury on him. Don Antonio forces Belvile to fight alongside Don
Pedro for the honor of Florinda, Belvile's love, unknowingly! This is one of many
occurrences when the characters end up in engaging circumstances because of mixed
up personality. The audience is forced to pay special attention to how the plot develops
as a result of the characters' frequent misidentifications of one another.
The audience naturally anticipates some kind of confusion and chaos because all of the
action takes place during Carnival, particularly Venetian. The carnival setting makes
sense for a play with a fast pace because of this chaotic environment.The play would
naturally exhibit the same impulsive atmosphere of gaiety and rapidity of movement that
occurs during carnivals, as the spectators anticipate, given the happenings throughout
the city during Carnival.
Due to the particular nature of the carnival, the play is also making a bold statement for
its time. Behn is advocating for women's equality through Hellena. Hellena is as brave
and outspoken as any man of the time when he is disguised. She is capable of choosing
a mate like a man would choose livestock. It would appear that they saw it as their right,
without a doubt. His deceitfulness, womanizing ways, and lying are not qualities that
shine. This play would be derided in the following era due to these aspects as well as the
women's sexual boldness.
In conclusion, the decision made by Behn to stage the play in Venice during a carnival
was in keeping with the theme. The play's pace is determined by the actions of the
characters, who communicate as much as their words do. This could only have been
accomplished through the chaos and spontaneity of carnivals. As a result, the success of
Aphra Behn's The Rover relied heavily on the significance of Carnival.

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Name- Vivek Singh

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