Aphra Behn (1640–1689): The Life and Legacy of England’s First Professional Female Playwright

Aphra Behn, born in 1640 and passing away in 1689, remains one of the most influential and pioneering figures in English literary history. As a playwright, poet, and novelist, Behn broke through the gender barriers of her time to become the first woman in England to make a living from writing. Her works, characterized by their bold exploration of themes such as sexuality, power, and social structures, helped shape the Restoration period and left a lasting impact on literature.

Early Life and Background

Though much of Aphra Behn’s early life remains shrouded in mystery, certain facts have been established. She was born in 1640 in Wye, Kent, to a family with royalist sympathies. Her father was a merchant, and she was likely raised in the midst of political turbulence, as England was embroiled in the English Civil War (1642–1651). Behn’s family was part of the royalist faction that supported King Charles I, and following the king’s execution in 1649 and the rise of the Puritan government under Oliver Cromwell, her early years were marked by uncertainty.

Behn’s personal history became even more enigmatic after she traveled to the Netherlands in the early 1660s. Some historians suggest that she may have been married to a man who was either an exile or someone with a high rank in the court of the Dutch West India Company. This period is crucial as it marked her introduction to the world of international politics and intrigue, a theme that would influence much of her later writing.

The Restoration Era and Behn’s Emergence as a Writer

With the restoration of King Charles II to the English throne in 1660, Behn returned to England and began to establish herself as a writer. The Restoration period, which followed the end of the English Civil War, was one of cultural rejuvenation. It was a time when theater and literature flourished, with the newly restored monarchy supporting arts and performances, particularly those involving wit, satire, and exploration of complex human desires.

In 1670, Aphra Behn made her debut as a playwright with the comedy The Forc’d Marriage. However, her breakthrough came in 1677 with her play The Rover, a bawdy comedy that became one of her most celebrated works. The Rover was a play about love, seduction, and betrayal, set against the backdrop of Carnival in Naples. It introduced audiences to Behn's unique voice, one unafraid to explore themes of female autonomy, sexual freedom, and societal expectations. The play was a commercial success and solidified Behn's reputation in London’s thriving theater scene. shutdown123