In the world of the play, sex is used for financial gain and personal gratification and has little connection with love. Write about Behn's presentation of sexual relationships in 'The Rover' in the light of this comment:

Authors Avatar

In the world of the play, sex is used for financial gain and personal gratification and has little connection with love. Write about Behn’s presentation of sexual relationships in ‘The Rover’ in the light of this comment:

Critics have argued that many of the sexual relationships presented by Behn demonstrate personal gratification and financial gain lacking the existence of love; nevertheless it is important to consider that this restoration comedy is set in a carnival allowing sexual freedom to be provided, thereby both women and men receive equality and an extended freedom which would have been prohibited. The carnival is a metaphor for the restoration in the bawdiness and sexuality of the play we see a reaction to the years of Puritanism. The setting allows Behn to create disorder, removing laws and rules temporarily, in addition to the suspension of ranks. Due to this, it becomes trivial to perform a sexual act to gain money or obtain pleasure almost viewing the idea to be legitimate and acceptable. Nevertheless, many of the sexual relationships witnessed, embody love and affection; Behn builds contrasting relationships creating her climax as some of the characters act as a foil to one another.

The audience encounter sexual relationships exploited in order to receive income. This is demonstrated by the use of sex for a financial gain rather than expressing emotions of love. Our prime indication of this is Angelica, who maintains sexual relationships in order to gain profits; her mentality concerning love is of ‘inconstancy’s the sin of mankind, therefore I am reserved that nothing but gold shall charm my heart’, and it is this very idea which causes Willmore to ‘condemn’ her mind, clearly from this statement we acknowledge Angelica’s views on love, she seeks to gain money and by doing so perhaps receiving status; as a result, the carnival is the time for her work exposing her beauty to lure the men who ‘regard her’ and thereby receiving her income.

Join now!

Consequently, we learn who seeks to gain Angelica’s pleasure must pay a large sum of money, however, Angelica almost gives into Willmore, allowing him to ‘lay’ with her, regardless of his circumstances being ‘unprovided with money’, perhaps implying she views Willmore as an exception, perhaps a sexual relationship which may be connected with love. ‘His words go through me to the very soul’, in this case, it appears that Angelica seems to be affected by Willmore, possibly even desiring him as she later claims: ‘I never loved before, though oft a mistress. Shall my first vows be slighted’ showing ...

This is a preview of the whole essay