Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The Result of Beauty

Feminine beauty has been discussed in a few of the other plays read earlier this semester and has even been "blamed" for the questionable actions of men.  The attempted rape of Florinda by Willmore in III.v. of The Rover is by far the most disturbing we've read.  Willmore instructs Florinda that, "a judge, were he young and vigorous and saw those eyes of thine, would know 'twas they gave the first blow, the first provocation" (III.v.).  Is Behn pointing to a social context in which women who "cry rape" are blamed for their own victimization?  If so, what is the specific context to which she's referring?  Is it England/English gentlemen and their actions?  Or is it the space of the Carnival in Naples?  What is the significance of Willmore's constant assumption that all women are whores regardless of whether they hang pictures outside their abodes?  Why is his promiscuity violent in nature?

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