Macheath Vs Satan

There is a curious link that can be established in this play, it is that of, one of Gay’s characters in The Beggar’s Opera, Macheath, and Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost. The idea is to present the bond that joins their images within both works in terms of their behaviour.

The strategy that Gay uses is that of a creation of a male highway robber who is opposed to other characters’ attitude; so that everyone can see how he differs from other characters. In fact, he reacts in such an opening way that everyone can distinguish his honest actions. Therefore, he admits publicly that he steals but with this idea he can be shaped by everyone else as a person whose deeds are justified by the situation in which he is involved.

Afterwards we find another character in Paradise Lost, Satan, whose attitude is leading the reader to think of him as an almost complete hero. His character often appears to talk rationally and although we also see irrational speeches, his persuasive way of speaking contributes to the idea of being a heroic figure.  He shares his pain all the way through so that he can be seen as a victim.

There we come to the joining point, two apparently different characters that can be seen as dupe figures because they are forced by the circumstances that surround them. They struggle to get what they want: money and destroying humankind respectively.  Thus, any of them are complete embodiment of evil but characters who follow their instinct to get what situation is requiring from them.  

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Beauty as a weapon

Although The Rape of the Lock as a work parodies the serious, elevated style of the classical epic poem, Alexander Pope uses them as patterns to be based on. There are links to themes like women as representative figures of beauty. For instance, in The Odyssey, women play a very important role, that of human beings who represent seductress.

In this classic work we find figures like Calypso who is tempting Odysseus with her destructive power of the enchantress, although he denies her; and Circe, whose charms are directed towards the same person as well. In addition, there is a very significant moment when she turned Odysseus’s men into the image of pigs. A vivid image of animals compared to men that can be kept by women as if they were pets.

Then, as we can see through Alexander Pope’s poem, the element that guides Belinda’s behaviour is the defence of her honour. In fact, when the images of cosmetics pervade the poem, the author is not just suggesting war but a fight for Belinda’s honour. In addition, Belinda’s beauty and her “tempting” locks are represented as weapon themselves because she can bring mankind to ruin with desire.

And so, as a result, what we have is two apparently different works which can be linked one to each other. They both use female beauty and enchants as a useful tool for them in order to gain a certain amount of power through their sexual charms.

Female values in Aphra Behn's works

                    

Female characters within Aphra Behn’s works are represented as women trapped within social limitations. The female writer is using her characters as symbols of the voice which needs to be heard.

In the women’s search for happiness, throughout Behn’s works, the reader can see her attempts to show that they can be seen as the perfect symbol of wealth.

When women are exemplified as independent or isolated characters, it can be appreciated how the female character is being created without the restrictions imposed by society. Therefore, isolation and, in some cases, death, is not a tragic moment but a liberation or escape from the restrictions in which they were emerged.

Behn’s plays and many poems explore desire. In addition, it needs to be specified that a desirable woman possesses beauty, the power to evoke passion in men, and wit. She also gives her female characters the power of the word. Thus they also work properly as the perfect intellectual individual.

However, Behn establishes a difference between the idea of female beauty and female wealth. The first one is just a step to reach the whole perfection of a complete woman.

Lastly, I would say that as well as wanting to be a remarkable writer, Aphra Behn also wished that her characters were outstanding female figures.

Why did I choose Astraea?

Astrea was the code-name that Aphra Behn uses as hers when she was working as a spy for Charles II. During the war with the Dutch, she supplied information to the English government. When she returned to England she was taken to jail briefly for debt.

In Greek mythology, Astræa or Astrea (Ancient Greek: Ἀστραῖα: "star-maiden")was Zeus and Themis's daughter. She was, as her mother, a goddess of justice.

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/astraea.html
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