Politics and Society

Abstract

Behn dramatises social and political issues and conflict indirectly through intrigue comedy which focuses on romantic love. Yet within the conventions of the genre she draws our attention quite explicitly to issues of class, gender and politics which resonate out into Restoration London. In this chapter we shall draw together some of the insights of previous chapters by focusing on extracts which raise, directly or indirectly, social and political questions central to each play. We shall consider whether Behn manipulates staging and comic convention to direct or question our views on key themes, and whether she simply mirrors or actively criticises the social and political structures she represents.