<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This work studies the behaviour of the protagonist of <underline>The History of the Nun: or, The Fair Vow- Breaker</underline> (1689) to investigate both what motivates her decisions (from pious woman to murderer) and what the objectives of her author may be. The conclusion reached is that female agency and the transgressive desire developed by Aphra Behn presented a new conception of femininity. Behn challenges the social contract and subverts seventeenth century conceptions of gender. Through Isabella’s behaviour Behn challenges established feminine morality, postulating a new role for women within society. The implication is that the act of breaking a holy vow, and the courage shown by a woman determined to take responsibility for her own life and make her own decisions in society, inevitably ends in tragedy and disaster.</p></abstract>

This work studies the behaviour of the protagonist of The History of the Nun: or, The Fair Vow- Breaker (1689) to investigate both what motivates her decisions (from pious woman to murderer) and what the objectives of her author may be. The conclusion reached is that female agency and the transgressive desire developed by Aphra Behn presented a new conception of femininity. Behn challenges the social contract and subverts seventeenth century conceptions of gender. Through Isabella’s behaviour Behn challenges established feminine morality, postulating a new role for women within society. The implication is that the act of breaking a holy vow, and the courage shown by a woman determined to take responsibility for her own life and make her own decisions in society, inevitably ends in tragedy and disaster.

”Murderess of Two Husbands”: Female Agency as Female Loyalty in <italic>the History of the Nun</italic>

Gender Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

”Murderess of Two Husbands”: Female Agency as Female Loyalty in 

This work studies the behaviour of the protagonist of The History of the Nun: or, The Fair Vow- Breaker (1689) to investigate both what motivates her decisions...

”Murderess of Two Husbands”: Female Agency as Female Loyalty in the History of the Nun

Published Online: Mar 12, 2019

Page range: 20 - 44

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/genst-2019-0003

Keywords
Aphra Behn, Charles I, Female Agency, Monstrosity, Restoration Literature, Short Fiction

© 2019 Juan De Dios Torralbo Caballero, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

”Murderess of Two Husbands”: Female Agency as Female Loyalty in the History of the Nun

Published Online: Mar 12, 2019

Page range: 20 - 44

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/genst-2019-0003

KeywordsAphra Behn, Charles I, Female Agency, Monstrosity, Restoration Literature, Short Fiction

© 2019 Juan De Dios Torralbo Caballero, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Aphra Behn, Charles I, Female Agency, Monstrosity, Restoration Literature, Short Fiction