The Disappointment By Aphra Behn - 1367 Words

Throughout â€Å"The Disappointment†, Aphra Behn critics the established gender roles in the society particularly sexually. This can be seen in the relationship between Lisander who is the male figure and Cloris who is the female one. In this poem, Cloris can be seen as the object of desire while Lisander can be seen as the sexual object which challenges the pre-established roles in society. The first stanza reveals a side of Lisander that shows that he does not have a complete control on his body. Indeed, the fact that the author says â€Å"One day the Amorous Lisander/By an impatient Passion sway’d† (1-2). The use of the word â€Å"sway’d† shows that the passion drives him and controls him while it should be the opposite. This situation questions the male identity because Lisander, as a cavalier and a man, should be strong and show no weaknesses. Furthermore, the end of this stanza reveals that Lisander does need Cloris to live in this world which shows that she, unconsciously, has power over Lisander because he needs her. Behn writes thatâ€Å"[Lisander] was now descending to the Sea/And left no Light to guide the World/But what from Cloris brighter Eyes was hurl’d† (8-10). There is an imagery there which the opposition between the fact that Lisander has no light and Cloris has bright eyes. It shows that in their relationship, the woman is needed and plays an important role. It has to be remembered that, back in the days, women were dependant of men because of their lower social status,Show MoreRelatedThe Actual Disappointment: The Work fo Aphra Behn Essay1114 Words   |  5 PagesAphra Behn, a remarkable author who â€Å"‘†¦earned†¦ [women]†¦the right to speak their minds’†, who was not afraid to speak her mind herself as evident in her works, and was a writer that aided in paving the way for women’s rights through the literature world (The Norton Anthology 2308). A majority of Behn’s works serve to further the voice of women in the oppressed society in which they were living in and this work being examined is no exception to this. The Disappointment serves as a perfect satiricRead MoreThe Rights Of Female Sexuality1626 Words   |  7 Pagescharacterized by its licentiousness and extravagant spending. 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