Aphra Behn's "On Her Loving Two Equally"

Aphra Behn: Pioneering Female Playwright and Poet

Aphra Behn (1640-1689) is a pioneering figure in English literature, often celebrated as one of the first women in England to earn a living as a writer. Her work broke barriers for female authors and contributed to the early feminist discourse. Virginia Woolf famously acknowledged Behn's role in her essay "A Room of One's Own," where she stated that Behn's success paved the way for women to speak their minds through writing. Behn's body of work, which includes plays, poetry, and novels, frequently addresses themes of female autonomy and sexual freedom, challenging the societal norms of her time. Her poem "On Her Loving Two Equally" (1682) is a notable example, offering a candid perspective on love and agency from a female viewpoint.

Dissecting "On Her Loving Two Equally"

"On Her Loving Two Equally" is a poem that explores the emotional turmoil of a woman caught between the affections for two men, Damon and Alexis. The poem is composed of three sestets (six-line stanzas) and follows a distinct rhyme scheme of AABBCC DEDEFF GGHHII, which aids in conveying the rhythm and mood of the speaker's internal conflict. The use of literary devices such as rhetorical questions, metaphors, and alliteration enriches the text, providing depth to the speaker's indecision and dissatisfaction. The poem's structure and tone reflect the speaker's struggle to reconcile her equal love for both men, which remains unresolved.

The Poem's Form and Rhyme

Aphra Behn's careful construction of "On Her Loving Two Equally" is evident in its structured form, with each stanza composed of six lines following a consistent rhyme scheme. The poem occasionally employs slant rhyme, which creates a subtle dissonance that mirrors the speaker's emotional discord. This deviation from the more conventional perfect rhyme of the period underscores the poem's central theme of unresolved tension and the speaker's inability to find harmony in her romantic life.

The Speaker's Inner Conflict

The poem's first-person narrative allows readers to delve into the speaker's inner conflict. The opening stanza poses a rhetorical question that introduces the speaker's dilemma of loving two men equally. The use of alliteration in phrases such as "twixt two" emphasizes the balance and competition of her affections. The second stanza further explores the speaker's emotional turmoil, with words like "sigh," "mourn," and "die" conveying her profound distress. The simultaneous presence of both Damon and Alexis exacerbates her suffering, as she finds herself unable to choose between them.

Seeking Resolution in the Final Stanza

The concluding stanza of "On Her Loving Two Equally" signifies a shift as the speaker appeals to Cupid, the Roman god of love, for a resolution. She pleads for Cupid to withdraw one of his arrows, symbolizing her wish to escape the torment of her indecision. The metaphor of a "fever in my blood" vividly portrays the speaker's intense emotional struggle, likening it to a physical illness. The poem ends without providing a definitive answer, suggesting that true love and passion cannot be split equally between two individuals and that such a division ultimately leads to dissatisfaction.

Behn's Commentary on Gender and Society

Aphra Behn's "On Her Loving Two Equally" offers a satirical take on the gender dynamics and societal expectations of her time. The poem parodies the conventions of male-centric literature by presenting a woman who humorously grapples with the choice between two lovers, thereby critiquing the societal norms that condoned men having both a wife and a mistress. Behn's use of a playful tone and a capricious speaker allows her to critique social norms while exposing the era's double standards. Although the poem is part of Behn's play "The False Count," it stands alone as a clever commentary on the broader issues of gender inequality and the restrictive roles imposed on women in the 17th century.