Subversive Conscience in Aphra Behn's The Rover

Abstract

This research work focuses on defiance against restrictive social codes and conventions in Aphra Behn’s play The Rover. Behn subverts the traditional gender discourse created by patriarchy through her strong female characters. Behn defies patriarchy by creating witty, independent, attractive, strong, active and assertive female characters. She vehemently criticizes and blurs the stereotyped view of gender roles in The Rover. Behn with her brilliant stagecraft and carnival setting subverts the gender based ideologies of her contemporary seventeenth century society. Behn's own version of carnival which departs from traditional and religious carnival provides opportunity for female character to get liberation from patriarchal domination and exploitation. They could spontaneously transgress the civility of normal behaviour and ideologies of existing social conventions and express their social desire freely. Utilizing all the features of Restoration Comedy, Behn's heroines and whores subvert the male-created narratives of marriage, love, courtship and prostitution. Behn's strong, intelligent and assertive heroines and whores in the play successfully deconstruct the gender hierarchies created by male discourse to control, oppress and exploit the female.