Hi,
I have just finished writing my essay regarding a play called The Rover. I would like some assistance and feedback on my grammar, etc... I would like to get at least a B- on this paper, and I am looking for any way to boost my mark up. I would appreciate, greatly, feedback on any areas in my paper I need to change. I would also appreciate quick feedback as my essay is due in a couple of days. THANK YOU!
HERE IS MY ESSAY TOPIC: Topic #7 The Rover (118): Able to set her own-very high-price on her favors at the play's opening, Angellica Bianca is both sexually and economically independent. Yet in the course of the play, she is brought low not by her situation as a prostitute, but rather by her romantic attachment to Willmore. Spurned by Willmore after having given him both her affection and her money, Angelica is the classic jealous woman, but is that all she is? Are we sympathetic to her plight? [You will want in your conclusion section to answer the "why?" of this, i.e. why does Behn wish us (not) to feel sympathy for Angellica Bianca?]
HERE IS MY ESSAY:
Commonly known as a woman of fame and sexual desires, Angelica Bianca, from The Rover by Aphra Behn, is portrayed as what is known to be, a person of fantasies and seeker of high standard males whom have the desires of sexual favors for acceptable payments. Within The Rover, Angelica Bianca finds herself weakened by Wilmore's charm over women. Although she has fallen affectionate for a man who eventually breaks her heart, her presentation as an independent, beautiful woman, creates a rather snob like character which compels her to be overpowering towards others.
Noticed by almost everyone in Naples, Angelica Bianca has given herself a reputation as a famous courtesan (prostitute) who without question is truly admired by men. In The Rover, Angelica Bianca, in my opinion, has a sort of attachment to herself in the first part of act 2. She views herself as a respected being through her status in society. In Act 2, scene 1, Angelica asks her Bravo (bodyguard) who has seen her price and is willing to pay, the Bravo replies "...the first were admirers of beauty only, but no purchasers; they were merry with your price and picture, laughed at the sum, and so passed off"(Behn 50). Angelica answers back with an overconfident response by telling the bravo, "No matter, I'm not displeased with their rallying; their wonder feeds my vanity..."(Behn 50). In my opinion, her answer provides a sense that, because she is beautiful, men fall beneath her feet and it's almost as if she is acting like royalty to them. Being a thing of beauty enhances oneself confidence, but for Angelica she deliberately seeks for attention to increase her mindset of being different compared to other women in a seventeenth-century society; which leads her to believe that power is built on her beauty rather than knowledge.
Due to her nature of using her beauty as a way to overpower men, her view of men, in my opinion, is solely a tool towards her greater love, which is money; this of course is before her inclination towards Willmore. Her status as a rather famous courtesan directs her towards wealth rather than love, "But inconstancy's the sin of all mankind, therefore I'm resolved that nothing but gold shall charm my heart"(Behn 50). I find that because she is not showing much respect for men, she believes that men are purposely for money; she feels that her life isn't meant for love, but rather to gain and succeed over those who are hypnotized by her compelling beauty. In a society where inequality exists between men and women, Angelica stands out as different. Her gain of money encourages her to become equal with men, which in this current society is unacceptable, and rebellious.
Consequently, Angelica's self-image of being different among other women, also forces her to become sort of dictating towards other people within the play. This, in my opinion, is shown to be a characteristic of being a snob; which means "a person who despises those whom he or she considers to be inferior in rank, attainment, or taste" (Oxford English Dictionary). In The Rover, Angelica is often read to be ordering towards others. Whenever the chance appears, she speaks in a royalty-like manner to insure her demands are met. An example within the play would be the situation in act 2, scene 1, where Willmore triggers Antonio's rage by taking a picture of Angelica, which Antonio saw as disrespectful (Behn 53). Angelica, following up with the situation uses her imposing approach, "Hold, I command you, if for me you fight" (Behn 53). I believe that, the use of the word command shows that she views herself as the center of attention and demanding. Already assuming that the fight was over her, the situation was immediately stopped through her voice only, showing that her status as a woman with power feeds her ability to direct others. Another example of her dictatorship is in act 5, where Willmore is at gunpoint and Angelica commands Antonio to stop, "...And you, Antonio, I command you hold..."(Behn 108). Once again this shows her being powerful over men and that she knowingly accepts her power and ensures whatever she wants, happens. In my opinion, this proves that she practices her dictating ability within the play to ensure people in her society that she dictates in order to achieve superiority over the rest.
Following this further, Angelica's snob like character also bestows her to think of herself as being superior and overpowering; which makes me think that, with such a mindset she is able to do whatever she pleases. I believe that, Angelica's rage performed in act 5, portrays a negative image of her superiority. In act 5, Angelica has Willmore at gunpoint and is ready to shoot him for his disrespecting her love by cheating (Behn 104). In such an intense moment, I feel that, Angelica is mad with power over her mindset of superiority. Angelica threatens Willmore for his actions to prove once again that she cannot be messed with, "One thou hast injured, and who comes to kill thee for't"(Behn 105). In my opinion, this correlates to her advantage over men in her society. Any other woman would not have the power to do so, if they were cheated on. Angelica, on the other hand, causes Willmore to become insecure with her power over men. In class, we discussed that a gun is a weapon mainly used by a man, in a seventeenth-century society (Didicher). Seeing that Angelica has the possession of such a weapon corresponds to an odd behavior for a woman; specifically for someone who has felt love toward this man prior to his actions. In the light of the circumstances, of Angelica feeling such hatred towards Willmore, she uses violent actions rather than meaningful words to confront him. Showing such behavior, makes the situation look as if a man was dealing with it; in other words, her aggression towards Willmore gives me the impression that she holds a strong belief that it's alright for a woman to deal with problems in a strong manly like manner; which in this case is violence. Further, evidence within the play shows that Angelica is not an average woman in a seventeenth-century society, by showing her inner self of being dominant, "Oh, that thou wert in earnest! So mean a though of me would turn my rage to scorn, and I should pity thee, and give thee leave to live; which for the public safety of our sex, and my own private injuries, I dare not do. Prepare- I will no more be tempted with replies"(Behn 107). I believe that Angelica's approach to Wilmore's unfaithfulness was one that was rather immoral; because she took the approach of violence to quickly to resolve her pain; her actions prove that her behavior can be rather unstable as she becomes mad with power. In my opinion, this illustrates an indecent female behavior, which confines her to believe greater power associates with authority.
Due to the Angelica's behavior it seems as if she commits herself to becoming better than everyone else. Her main intention in life, in my opinion, is to establish a role to be greater; not necessarily in a respected way, but that of being known through her destructive patterns of behavior. This being said, I think Behn wrote Angelica's character, to help us see how independent women can have a negative view on men; because of this, Behn would probably not want us to be compassionate to her situation with Willmore, because she acts closely like a "seventeenth-century" man would. Her attitude throughout the play, of being snobby and manipulative; as men would be controlling and powerful, leads me to believe that Behn, purposely wrote Angelica's character in The Rover, to show us how women would be like if they were in a position equal to men. That being said compassion is only shown to those who are in pain; Although Angelica may seem to be in such a situation, when Willmore cheats on her, her distress justifies the behaviors she portrays throughout the play.
