Mrs. Aphra Behn and the Commedia dell'Arte

Abstract

The history of England in the seventeenth century is characterized by sharp shifts from one extreme to the other, both on the political and social levels. These changes are also reflected in the history of the London theatres during the period, to the extent that all theatres were closed during the Commonwealth , and again for a year after the death of Charles II. The same extremism appears in people's actions and attitudes. People from all walks of life were wholeheartedly devoted to one cause or the other, and in many cases paid for their efforts with their lives. Aphra Behn was no different to the people of her time. An ardent royalist. she proved her loyalty to her king by going on a spy mission to Antwerp. She paid dearly for her pains by returning to England impoverished, only to be thrown into a debtor's prison. This experience taught her to depend only on herself and her talents, which she defended tooth and nail, becoming the first professional female playwright in England, and one of the rare women whose literary capabilities were recognized and acknowledged by the predominantly male literacy circles of the time. Her plays cover a wide range of styles and interests - pseudo-heroism, romance, farce. Her writings show her to be receptive to the different trends influencing her society. [Excerpt]