The Rover by Aphra Behn: Analysis of a Fragment
FRAGMENT FROM “THE ROVER” BY APHRA BEHN
In this assignment it is going to be analyzed a fragment from the play “The Rover” by Aphra Behn. To set it properly in the general context: this piece of story takes place almost at the end (act V). It refers to the moment in which Florinda and Belvile are getting married, and Willmore is told to stand guard in case that Don Pedro might appear.
Referring now only to the fragment, it is set in the corridor of Blunt’s house, although this is not mentioned. Willmore is standing there when Angelica comes pointing at him with a pistol. They have a conversation in which Willmore tries to save his life. Then, Antonio appears and wants Angelica to let him kill Willmore. Finally, Don Pedro enters in the house, interrupting the action.
With the description above it is possible to say what characters of the play are involved in this particular scene:
WILLMORE is acting scared, trying to escape from the situation or to change Angelica’s mind. He even tries to give her money to save his life.
“This old General has quite spoil’d thee”: in this speech act Willmore is addressing Angelica, but the verb used describes something closer to a child, which might be the way that he sees Angelica, or even women in general. There is a comparison between the manner in which Angelica treats her lovers and the way that a capricious child changes toys. With that speech Willmore is trying to say that if she ever finds another child as selfish as her, she should not be surprised (“equal Fires” ; “Dart for Dart”).
“I must, like cheerful Birds, sing in all Groves, And perch on every Bough, Billing the next kind She that flies to meet me; Yet after all cou’d build my Nest with thee”: here he is comparing himself with a bird, which is an animal and precisely because of that it is free from the burden of the human conscience. This simile is his excuse for being erratic and childish about his life in general, because birds represent freedom.
In this assignment it is going to be analyzed a fragment from the play “The Rover” by Aphra Behn. To set it properly in the general context: this piece of story takes place almost at the end (act V). It refers to the moment in which Florinda and Belvile are getting married, and Willmore is told to stand guard in case that Don Pedro might appear.
Referring now only to the fragment, it is set in the corridor of Blunt’s house, although this is not mentioned. Willmore is standing there when Angelica comes pointing at him with a pistol. They have a conversation in which Willmore tries to save his life. Then, Antonio appears and wants Angelica to let him kill Willmore. Finally, Don Pedro enters in the house, interrupting the action.
With the description above it is possible to say what characters of the play are involved in this particular scene:
WILLMORE is acting scared, trying to escape from the situation or to change Angelica’s mind. He even tries to give her money to save his life.
“This old General has quite spoil’d thee”: in this speech act Willmore is addressing Angelica, but the verb used describes something closer to a child, which might be the way that he sees Angelica, or even women in general. There is a comparison between the manner in which Angelica treats her lovers and the way that a capricious child changes toys. With that speech Willmore is trying to say that if she ever finds another child as selfish as her, she should not be surprised (“equal Fires” ; “Dart for Dart”).
“I must, like cheerful Birds, sing in all Groves, And perch on every Bough, Billing the next kind She that flies to meet me; Yet after all cou’d build my Nest with thee”: here he is comparing himself with a bird, which is an animal and precisely because of that it is free from the burden of the human conscience. This simile is his excuse for being erratic and childish about his life in general, because birds represent freedom.