The Fair Jilt - Aphra Behn
First Published in 1688.
Helpful quotes:
● ‘The Method ought to be taken, and is by almost all of ‘em; though Miranda
thought her Wit above it, as her Spirit was.’ Religious conflict. Miranda is already
picked out from the other nuns by not following the rules of confessing to her
steward.
● ‘[Mirandas] Beauty, which had all the charms of Nature gave, became the Envy of
the whole sisterhood.’ Also stands out because of her beauty. Look at nature.
What is the significance of her beauty being given to her by nature?
● ‘She writes in vain, in vain She varies in style, by a Cunning, peculiar to a Maid
possess’d with such a sort of Passion.’ Dramatic change to her personality. She
seems too determined and too passionate.
● ‘She shou’d be ever in his Prayers, though not in his Heart.’ When the man
replies he informs her that his education and quality are too great to leave and so
he will not accept her devotion.
● ‘I love with a Violence which cannot be contain’d within the Bounds of Reason,
Moderation, or Vertue.’ Her determined passion is presented during her
confession to the man (friar). Look at violence and contrast it with reason.
● ‘She swells with Pride, Love, Indignation and Desire; her burning Heart is
bursting with Despair, her Eyes grow fierce, and from Grief, she rises to a storm;
and in her Agony of Passion, which looks all disdainful, haughty, and full of Rage,
she began to revile him, as the poorest of Animals.’ Miranda’s passionate desire
turns into passionate anger. When he refuses her she turns into a storm, this
simile illustrates the idea that she can become her own reckoning. She also
shows grief as if to suggest that her love has died.
● ‘Throwing her self, in that instant, into the Confessing Chair and Violently to such
a degree, in crying out, Help, Help! A Rape. Help, Help!’ The irony of this line is
shown in the fact that she sits on a confession chair and yet she is telling a lie.
Religious conflict as she is accusing him of a sinful act. She does this out of
anger.
First Published in 1688.
Helpful quotes:
● ‘The Method ought to be taken, and is by almost all of ‘em; though Miranda
thought her Wit above it, as her Spirit was.’ Religious conflict. Miranda is already
picked out from the other nuns by not following the rules of confessing to her
steward.
● ‘[Mirandas] Beauty, which had all the charms of Nature gave, became the Envy of
the whole sisterhood.’ Also stands out because of her beauty. Look at nature.
What is the significance of her beauty being given to her by nature?
● ‘She writes in vain, in vain She varies in style, by a Cunning, peculiar to a Maid
possess’d with such a sort of Passion.’ Dramatic change to her personality. She
seems too determined and too passionate.
● ‘She shou’d be ever in his Prayers, though not in his Heart.’ When the man
replies he informs her that his education and quality are too great to leave and so
he will not accept her devotion.
● ‘I love with a Violence which cannot be contain’d within the Bounds of Reason,
Moderation, or Vertue.’ Her determined passion is presented during her
confession to the man (friar). Look at violence and contrast it with reason.
● ‘She swells with Pride, Love, Indignation and Desire; her burning Heart is
bursting with Despair, her Eyes grow fierce, and from Grief, she rises to a storm;
and in her Agony of Passion, which looks all disdainful, haughty, and full of Rage,
she began to revile him, as the poorest of Animals.’ Miranda’s passionate desire
turns into passionate anger. When he refuses her she turns into a storm, this
simile illustrates the idea that she can become her own reckoning. She also
shows grief as if to suggest that her love has died.
● ‘Throwing her self, in that instant, into the Confessing Chair and Violently to such
a degree, in crying out, Help, Help! A Rape. Help, Help!’ The irony of this line is
shown in the fact that she sits on a confession chair and yet she is telling a lie.
Religious conflict as she is accusing him of a sinful act. She does this out of
anger.
