Aphra Behn - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Aphra Behn (1640-1689) stands as a revolutionary figure in English literature, distinguished as the first professional female writer in the language and a pioneering voice that challenged the gender conventions of Restoration England. Known to her contemporary admirers as "Astrea," after the Greek goddess of justice, and to her detractors as "the fair conjugator" for her alleged espionage work, Behn's life remains as intriguing as her literary legacy.
The earliest documented references to Behn emerge from her probable birth in Canterbury, though the precise details of her early life remain tantalizingly obscure. Her first verifiable appearance in historical records occurs in 1666 when she served as a spy for King Charles II in Antwerp under the code name "Agent 160," a period that would later influence her novel "Oroonoko" (1688), one of the earliest English novels and a groundbreaking work addressing slavery and colonialism.
Behn's evolution from intelligence agent to celebrated playwright and author marked a watershed moment in literary history. Her most successful play, "The Rover" (1677), exemplified her masterly blend of wit, sexual politics, and social commentary, while her poetry challenged contemporary notions of female desire and autonomy. Virginia Woolf later famously declared that "all women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn... for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds."
The legacy of this remarkable woman continues to captivate scholars and artists alike, with her works experiencing a renaissance in feminist literary criticism and modern theatrical productions. Her life story, marked by periods of imprisonment for debt, romantic intrigues, and literary triumph, epitomizes the complex relationship between gender, power, and artistic expression. Contemporary interpretations of Behn's work reveal striking parallels with modern discussions of gender equality, professional autonomy, and the role of women in the arts. As we continue to uncover new aspects of her life and work, Aphra Behn remains a testament to the enduring power of the female voice in literature and the arts, challenging us to question how far we've truly come in the centuries since she first dared to write professionally.