Aphra Behn stands as a pioneering figure in literature, revered as the first
woman to earn a living solely through her writing. Her journey was marked by
remarkable tenacity and talent, paving the way for future generations of female
writers. Despite the challenges imposed by societal prejudices, Behn's literary
contributions continue to resonate with readers today.
Overcoming Societal Biases
In an era when women writers were scarce, Aphra Behn carved a niche for
herself against the prevailing biases of her time. After the loss of her
husband, she turned to writing, demonstrating both resilience and talent. Behn
faced harsh judgments, with many contemporaries assuming she was a prostitute
due to her association with the theater. During this period, female authors
were often seen as selling their dignity along with their writings. In her
prefaces, Behn boldly addressed her position as a woman writer, demanding
recognition and the same creative liberties granted to her male counterparts.
In the preface to The Lucky Chance, she declared, "All I ask, is for
the privilege for my masculine part, the poet in me...to tread in those
successful paths my predecessors have long thrived in...If I must not, because
of my sex, have this freedom, but that you will usurp all to yourselves, I
[will] lay down my Quill and you shall hear no more of me."
Early Life and Literary Beginnings
Born in 1640 in Kent, England, Aphra Behn grew up learning French and Dutch,
which would later influence her writing. The Behn family journeyed to Surinam
in 1663, where her father was to assume an administrative position, but he
passed away en route. This experience provided the backdrop for her novella
Oroonoko, or The Royal Slave (1688), derived from her observations and
journal entries. By age twenty-six, she was widowed from her husband, a Dutch
merchant, about whom little is known. Behn's brief stint as a spy for King
Charles II in Antwerp during the Anglo-Dutch War left her unpaid and
impoverished, forcing her to return to London in dire straits.
Imprisonment and the Start of a Writing Career
Unable to secure financial support from acquaintances, Behn was imprisoned
for debt. Upon her release, she embarked on a writing career that would
establish her as England's first professional woman playwright. Her debut play,
The Forc'd Marriage, or The Jealous Bridegroom (1670), quickly gained
acclaim, allowing her to sustain herself financially through her writings.
Despite her success, Behn's choice of provocative subject matter often drew
criticism. Her bold depictions of prostitution, coupled with the frank
eroticism in some of her novels and poems, shocked audiences of her time. As
one of the earliest female dramatists, Behn was likened to actresses, who were
often assumed to be prostitutes, thus tainting her reputation further.
Legacy and Influence
Behn, like her inspiration William Shakespeare, frequently borrowed themes
from existing literature, refining and enhancing them. She lamented that her
works were often undervalued simply because they were "writ by a woman."
Nevertheless, her literary prowess endured, and by the nineteenth century, her
influence was celebrated by none other than Virginia Woolf. In A Room of
One's Own, Woolf famously acknowledged that the possibility of a woman
living off her writing existed because "Aphra Behn had done it!"
Final Days and Memorial
Aphra Behn passed away in April 1689. Her tombstone, inscribed perhaps at
the behest of her lover John Hoyle, bears the poignant epitaph, "Here lies a
proof that wit can never be / Defence enough against mortality." Behn's final
resting place is within the hallowed confines of Westminster Abbey, a testament
to her enduring legacy in the realm of literature.