Welcome to the World of The Rover!
Hello! Welcome to your study guide for The Rover by Aphra Behn. This play is a wild ride through the streets of Naples during Carnival time. It is full of disguises, sword fights, and romance, but it also asks some very serious questions about how women were treated in the 1600s.
Don’t worry if the language or the history seems a bit much at first. We are going to break it down into small, easy-to-understand pieces. By the end of these notes, you’ll be ready to tackle your Pearson Edexcel AS Level exams with confidence!
1. The Big Picture: What is the Context?
In English Literature, context is just a fancy word for "what was happening in the world when this was written." To understand The Rover, you need to know about two things: The Restoration and Aphra Behn herself.
The Restoration (1660)
Before this play was written, England was a very strict place where theaters were actually banned! In 1660, King Charles II was brought back to the throne (this is called the Restoration). He loved parties, theater, and fashion. Most importantly, he allowed women to act on stage for the first time in England.
Aphra Behn: A Trailblazer
Aphra Behn was likely the first English woman to earn her living as a professional writer. She was a spy for the King, a world traveler, and a very bold thinker.
Did you know? Many people at the time thought it was "shocking" for a woman to write plays about sex and money, but Behn didn't care. She wrote exactly what she saw!
Key Takeaway: This play was written for a society that was celebrating its new freedom after years of strict rules. It reflects a world of glitz, glamour, and changing rules for women.
2. The Setting: Naples and the Carnival
The play takes place in Naples, Italy, during Carnival.
Analogy: Think of Carnival like a giant masquerade ball or a modern-day music festival where everyone is in costume. Because everyone is wearing masks, they feel they can behave badly or do things they wouldn't normally do at home.
Why the setting matters:
- Anonymity: The masks let characters like Hellena and Florinda escape their strict brothers.
- Chaos: It allows for "mistaken identity" (a classic drama trick).
- Freedom: It creates a space where normal social rules don't apply.
Quick Review: The Carnival isn't just a party; it's a dramatic device that allows the plot to happen. Without the masks, the girls could never talk to the soldiers!
3. Meet the Characters (The "Couples")
The play follows three main groups of people. A good way to remember them is to look at how they view love and money.
The "Witty" Couple: Hellena and Willmore
Hellena: She is young, smart, and supposed to become a nun. She uses the Carnival to find a man instead. She represents the modern woman of the 1670s—independent and funny.
Willmore (The Rover): He is a wild sailor who loves "the chase." He represents the Cavalier lifestyle—drinking, fighting, and romancing many women.
Their Vibe: They engage in repartee (fast, witty banter). They are a match because they are both clever.
The "Romantic" Couple: Florinda and Belvile
Florinda: Hellena’s sister. She is being forced to marry a rich old man or a man she doesn't like. She wants to marry for love.
Belvile: An English colonel who is genuinely in love with Florinda. Unlike Willmore, he is loyal and respectful.
Their Vibe: High drama and serious romance. They represent idealized love.
The "Tragic" Couple: Angelica Bianca and Willmore
Angelica Bianca: A famous and very expensive courtesan (a high-class sex worker). She falls in love with Willmore and gives him her heart, but he betrays her.
Their Vibe: This is where the play gets serious. Angelica shows the "dark side" of the men's fun. When she falls in love, she loses her power.
Memory Aid:
- HELLena wants to raise HELL (rebel against the church).
- WILLmore wants MORE (he is never satisfied with one woman).
4. Key Themes to Discuss
1. Money vs. Love
In the 17th century, marriage was often a business deal. Behn shows how women were often treated like commodities (items to be bought and sold).
- Florinda is being sold into marriage by her brother, Pedro.
- Angelica literally puts a price tag on herself to keep control.
2. Disguise and Performance
Characters are constantly changing clothes. This shows that identity can be fluid. If you change your clothes, do you change who you are? Behn uses this to show that women can be just as "bold" as men if they hide their faces.
3. The Double Standard
This is a big one for your exam! Behn points out that men like Willmore are called "adventurous" for having many lovers, but women are called "ruined." Hellena fights against this by trying to beat Willmore at his own game.
Key Takeaway: The play is a Comedy of Intrigue. This means it’s full of complex plots, but it has a "sharp edge" that criticizes how society treats women.
5. Dramatic Devices: How Behn Tells the Story
To get top marks, you need to talk about how the play is built for the stage.
1. The Proviso Scene: This is a scene where a couple negotiates the "rules" of their relationship. Look at the end of the play where Hellena and Willmore agree to marry. It’s more like a legal contract than a fairy tale!
2. Soliloquy: When a character speaks alone to the audience. Angelica uses these to show her inner pain, which makes the audience feel sorry for her.
3. Stage Business: Think about the use of swords and balconies. These create physical layers on the stage, showing who has the power in a scene.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mistake: Thinking Willmore is the "hero."
Correction: He is the protagonist, but he does some very bad things (like nearly hurting Florinda). Behn wants us to question him, not just like him.
- Mistake: Forgetting about the "dark" scenes.
Correction: While it’s a comedy, there are moments of threatened violence. Mentioning these shows you understand the tone of the play.
7. Quick Summary for Revision
Genre: Restoration Comedy / Comedy of Intrigue.
Core Conflict: Young people trying to find love/freedom while their families try to control them for money.
Tone: Witty, fast-paced, but occasionally dark and critical of men's behavior.
Structure: Multiple plotlines that all come together in the chaos of Carnival.
Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Restoration plays have a lot of moving parts. Just remember that at its heart, The Rover is about people wearing masks so they can finally say what they really think.