Page 15 - KTUDELL E-LIT | Issue 4 - January 2025

2025 LITERATURE

Aphra Behn was a famous female
playwright of the Restoration era,
standing out among both female and
male writers of her time. She made
history as England's first professional
female writer, remaining the only woman
in this field for twenty years. Throughout
her career, she wrote 18 plays, many of
which were frequently staged, cementing
her as a foundational figure in women’s
writing. As a key literary figure in the 17th
century, Behn introduced new ideas and
themes to English literature, contributing
to movements like feminism and realism
in novels, as well as popularizing the
concept of the "noble savage," seen in her
work Oroonoko. With the publication of
Oroonoko or the Royal Slave in 1688,
Behn offered readers a glimpse into the
transatlantic slave trade and the harsh
realities of plantation life. She portrayed
these historical events through her
character Oroonoko, a “royal slave” who
was fraudulently captured and subjected
to slavery by an English captain. At the
start of her book, Behn claims it is a “true
history” about a real person, though it is
now known to be fictional. Despite this,
Oroonoko provides readers with a vivid
portrayal of the time, when mercantilism
spurred colonial expansion and
exploitation. Despite her fame, much
about Behn’s life remains unknown.
However, some aspects of her past may
have been deliberately kept secret due to
her role as a spy. It is possible that her
experience in espionage influenced her
work, adding a layer of depth and
intrigue to her storytelling. Behn’s
determination and talent enabled her to
thrive as the first woman to make a living
solely by her pen in a male-dominated
literary world, extending her legacy
beyond her plays. Her resilience and
innovative storytelling continue to inspire
readers and writers today, securing her
place as a pioneering figure in the history
of literature.

13