Sexuality And Power In Aphra Behn's The Disappointment

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In the 17th and 18th centuries it was known for men to have complete power over everything and most writings from that time gave evidence to that. It was also quite common for a man to speak in vulgar language about sexual encounters but it was considered scandalous and wrong if a woman was to do the same. In Aphra Behn’s The Disappointment, she challenges all of that by using romance and sexuality to modify the differing views of power in relation to gender roles. At the end of the first stanza Behn says, “And left no light to guide the world, But what from Cloris ' brighter eyes was hurled” (Stanza 1, Line 9-10), what Behn is illustrating is that even though it seems that Lysander has all the control because he is a male, Cloris is actually …show more content…

“Nature’s support, (without whose aid She can no human being give) Itself now wants the art to live; Faintness its slackened nerves invade: In vain th’ enraged youth essayed To call its fleeting vigor back, No motion ‘twill from motion take; Excess of love his love betrayed: In vain he toils, in vain commands The insensible fell weeping in his hand” (Stanza 8-9, Lines 80-90). In these lines, Behn displays the frustration and anger Lysander goes through because he has prematurely ejaculated. As Cloris is passed out, he tries self-arousal but fails miserably. This displays a sense of power to Cloris in a way that she is needed by Lysander for him to get aroused again. It also displays a deeper image of how a man can’t keep going unlike a woman can, therefore giving the power back to …show more content…

Who can the nymph’s confusion guess? The blood forsook the hinder place, And strewed with blushes all her face, Which both disdain and shame expressed: And from Lysander’s arms she fled, Leaving him fainting on the gloomy bed” (Stanza 12, Lines 111-120). One aspect of power shown in this stanza is by Cloris leaving Lysander in the situation he was in, she left him completely powerless. It also shows how Cloris finally stood up for herself and realized what was happening and that it was wrong. Even though this was a time where women were supposed to lie down and take what was given to them she got up and ran because she has the power to do that. Behn is saying that all women have the power to stand up for their selves and exit a situation they should not be in. Women have the right and power to flee even if society says

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