The Theme Of Love In Rover By Aphra Behn

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Love can influence the lives of many people in various ways, but many people do not actually differentiate between love, lust, and marriage and the way in which they can reap benefits from the three things that seem to be perfectly similar, but are different altogether. People mostly end up in marriage without knowing whether it is love that is actually driving them or whether it is lust. In this essay, I chose the play; Rover by Aphra Behn, to show the various perceptions of people towards the three. Behn has managed to portray this through the characters in the play. These characters search for love to serve permanent connection or physical needs. This therefore begs for a question, is marriage therefore founded on the basis of love or on …show more content…

The love between Florinda and Belville is a clear indication of what true love is. Florinda and Belville married against her father’s wishes: her father wanted her to marry Vincetio who was a wealthy son of the Viceroy so that she (Florinda) would bring more wealth into the family. This is evident through the argument between Hellena and Pedro over the marriage between Florinda and Vincetio. Pedro said and I quote “…you must consider Don Vincetio’s fortune, and the jointure he’ll make you (Behn, 580). Hellena replied and I quote “Vincetio may perhaps increase her bags, but not her family” (Behn, 580). However, Florinda defies her father’s wishes to marry Vincetio and instead marries Belville who was not wealthy. Behn wanted the readers to know that in true love, all the external pressures meant to separate the lovers do not thrive …show more content…

According to some characters like Wilmore, Love is means just the sexual engagement. While others like Florinda love is meant to give satisfaction and happiness. Lust is taken with priority by some characters like Blunt who believe in indulging in sex without any commitment or pay. Marriage has also been portrayed in the play through the marriage of Florinda and Belville, and that of Hellena and Wilmore. The marriage of Florinda is based on true love while that of Hellena is based on satisfaction of Physical

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