Act one of the rover opens with two scenes which indicate that men and women occupy very different spheres. Compare and contrast the men and women in Act 1 scene1 and Act 1 scene 2.
Aphra Behn sets the first scene of her play within a chamber in order to introduce a domestic sphere, allowing the audience to gain direct information about the characters and their inner views and ideas as they are hidden from the outside world. Consequently Behn is able to communicate to the audience the difficulties of a patriarchal society, this is portrayed by Helena and Florinda’s behaviour towards their brother, Pedro, who although maintains status due to his gender and possesses power over his sisters, he is challenged and opposed by Helena, which becomes clear through her use of language in addition to her actions and behaviour in scene 2.
We are instantly provided with the differences between men and women within society; where Pedro views the purpose of marriage to gain status and the importance of marrying a well known man, Florinda challenges his opinion as she is in love with Belvile and therefore desires to follow her heart and remain faithful to him, regardless of his background and place in society. Nevertheless, society empowers Pedro due to his gender therefore allowing him to maintain authority over his sisters, which is explicit by the force Florinda is exposed to, ensuring she is to marry Don Antonio, in which Pedro declares she ‘must do tomorrow’, evidently we recognise the control and authority a man embodies due to his place in society.
The women in the play as demonstrated by Helena and Florinda are not only discontented with the decisions made for them but also go against the males demands as they urgently seek control over their own lives; it can be argued that the cause for Helena’s rebellious attitude may be due to the restrictions set out by the patriarchal society. This is demonstrated by Helena’s character as she strives to gain what she pleases, which is to experience a sexual relationship, in order to satisfy her needs and to fulfil her wishes, this becomes more apparent in scene 2 but is also implied in the opening of the play when Helena states to Florinda: ‘have I not a world of youth? A humour gay? A beauty passable? A vigour desirable? Clean limbed? Sweet breathed? And a sense enough to know how all these ought to be employed to the best advantage? Yes, I do and will’ her keenness to gain an experience of love and sexual activities implies that she will undermine her father and brother’s commands thereby go against her patriarchal society as she is not to remain pure and chaste, whereby a nunnery would ensure she does, such eagerness to achieve such aim indicates that she does not possess the characteristics of a nunnery, therefore, Helena opposes the conventions of women of her time yet alone nunneries. As a consequence of her refusal to conform to what her brother demands, reveals that women maintain power, although to an extent, as Helena asserts to do as she wishes without her father and Pedro’s consent or knowledge.
