Aphra Behn: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
Aphra Behn, born in 1640, was an English playwright, poet, translator, and fiction writer from the [[Restoration era|Restoration period]]. As one of the first English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barriers and served as a literary role model for later generations of women authors. | Aphra Behn, born in 1640, was an English playwright, poet, translator, and fiction writer from the [[Restoration era|Restoration period]]. As one of the first English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barriers and served as a literary role model for later generations of women authors. | ||
[[Image:Detail-146569.jpg|thumb|center|A portrait of a woman from the 17th century, presumably Aphra Behn]] | [[Image:Detail-146569.jpg|thumb|center|A portrait of a woman from the 17th century, presumably Aphra Behn|class=only_on_mobile]] | ||
[[Image:Detail-146570.jpg|thumb|center|A portrait of a woman from the 17th century, presumably Aphra Behn|class=only_on_desktop]] | |||
== Career == | == Career == | ||
Latest revision as of 20:47, 26 December 2025
Early Life
Aphra Behn, born in 1640, was an English playwright, poet, translator, and fiction writer from the Restoration period. As one of the first English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barriers and served as a literary role model for later generations of women authors.
Career
Behn's career started after her supposed return from a spying mission in Antwerp. Her first play, The Forc'd Marriage, was staged in 1670, followed by The Amorous Prince. After her third play, she had established herself as a playwright.
Literary Works
Behn wrote a variety of plays, including comedies, tragicomedies, and tragedies. She explored various themes in her works, such as gender, race, and politics. Some of her notable works include The Rover, Oroonoko, and Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister.
Legacy
Behn's influence on literature is significant. She was a pioneer in both the professionalization of writing and the development of the novel as a literary form. Her work inspired many female writers, including Virginia Woolf, who famously wrote, "All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn... for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds."