Dramatic Poesy - John Dryden

                             " Bridge Course"

" John Dryden' s Essay of Dramatic 

Poesy ".

  Hello readers! Here, I am writing a blog. This blog is in response to our Bridge course :- " Of John Dryden' s Dramatic poesy. " This particular blog is inspired by Dr. Dilip sir barad - Department of English, Bhavnagar university.  I am going to present various aspects and different arguments of John Dryden' s essay of Dramatic poesy. 

  Before going further, First let us have an introduction about John Dryden's Essay of  Dramatic poesy and the introduction about Writer himself. 

   ' John Dryden ' ( 1631 - 1700 ) 

    John Dryden is the greatest literary figure of the Restoration age. John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator and playwright who was appointed " England's first poet laureate in the year 1668." In John Dryden's work we have an excellent reflection of both the good and the evil tendencies of the age in which he lived. He made excellent use of his opportunities and studied eagerly. 

 He  became one of the best educated men of his age, especially in the classics. After william Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, he was the greatest playwright. Dryden - The poet is best known today as a 'satirist. '

  ' John Dryden's Essay of Dramatic Poesy'

       " Essay of Dramatic poesy " - work by John Dryden, England's first poet laureate in which he attempts to justify drama as a legitimate form of " Poetry " Comparable to the Epic. He defend English drama against that of the ancients and the French. This essay first published in the year - 1668.

     In An essay of Dramatic poesy there are four speakers. Eugenius, crites, Lisideius and Neander. Each one argues very strongly as to which one is better ;

    " Ancient or modern, and French or English? "  These four are imagined speakers and these personages are :-

  1. EUGENIUS - Charles Sackville

 2.  CRITES - sir Robert Howard 

 3.   LISIDEIUS - Sir charles sedley

 4.   NEANDER - John Dryden himself

     So, these four speakers present their own ideas in John Dryden's Essay -" Of Dramatic poesy. " His essay on criticism which attempts to lay a foundation for all literary criticism. This essay discussed the following ideas. 

   1. Ancients vs. Modern

   2.  Unities

   3.   French vs. English drama

    4.  Separation of Tragedy and comedy 

         Vs. Tragicomedy

    5. Appropriateness of Rhyme in 

         drama. 

    These ideas are very much important. He discussed about these very elaborately in his great work. 

  " Definition of play, according to John Dryden's Essay :-

 " A play ought to be a just and lively image of human nature, representing  it's passions and humours and the changes of fortune to which it is subject, not for the delight but only for the instruction of mankind. "

   Now I am answering to some allotted questions on the basis of my understanding about this topic. 

   Question 1 :  Do you find any difference between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden 's definition of play? 

  Answer : - Before We jump on any Conclusion, First we need to Understand about both the Concepts very clearly. So according to me First it is very much necessary to be clear about both the definitions given by Aristotle and John Dryden.

   Aristotle 's definition of  Tragedy :- 

   • " A Tragedy is the imitation of am action that is Serious and also having magnitude, Complete in itself, in appropriate and Pleasurable language. " 

 John Dryden 's definition of Play :- 

 • " A Play Ought to be a just and lively image of human nature , represents its Passion and humours , and the change of Fortune to which it is Subject , for the delight and instruction of mankind." 

After Aristotle Here is a Person who is giving us a very well - firmed definition of Play. If we look at Dryden 's definition, through the Character of Lisideius he does not say that ; 

   " I am offering a definition, he says that I am offering a description." Although he is taking influence from Aristotle 's definition of tragedy. So subsequently he is actually carrying on the tradition. We can find that the definition broken up into three parts.

  1. ' Just and lively image of human nature '.

  2. 'Representing Passion and humours , and the change of Fortune to which it is Subject.' 

 3. ' For the delight and instruction of mankind.' 

In Dryden 's definition there is the Word   'Image ' he is really not bothered about the word but he thinks that Image is okay, if it is Just - Another important word in Dryden 's definition. But , Just image can also be a very drab kind of an image and that is why he inserted the Word - 'lively. ' So , it becomes ' Just and lively image of nature.' Aristotle 's definition of tragedy ended with the Word - ' Catharsis whereas Dryden seems to be ended his definition with delight and instruction of mankind. So we can say that both have the similar ideas in one or the other way.

  Conclusion :-  To conclude the Point we can Clearly Understand that the aim of both definition is to delight the readers. Aristotle firmly follow the tradition of tragedy and John Dryden has his own rules of Play.

Question 2 :- Do you think that the arguments Presented in Favour of the French Plays and against English Drama are appropriate?

Answer:- In this essay, each character expresses his own views on drama and compares French and English drama and discuss their comparative merits and demerits in the light of Classical Unities. Actually John Dryden attempts to make a Clear distinction between Ancient writers and Modern writers. He also discusses the importance of ' Unity in French Drama.' 

  Lisideius :- 

                             He Speaks in favour of the French works and he also agrees with Eugenius that English dramas were superior at the time of Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher. But later on it decayed and declined. Basically they live in full of bloodshed and Violence, Whereas Poetry is an art of Peace. In the late 17th century, it Flourished in France.

     French Playwrights follow the Ancients and favour the unity of time and observe it very carefully. In terms of Unity of Place they are equally sincere. In most of their plays , the entire action is limited to one place. While In English plays , the character relates to life and reasonable that it should be also in the drama, but in French Plays such narrations are made by those who are in some way or the other connected with main action.

      Neander :- 

                                 He says that the newer French writers are imitating the English Playwrights. He defends the English invention of tragi - Comedy by suggesting that the use of mirth with tragedy gives the audience relief from the heaviness of straight tragedy. He also suggest that the use of well - ordered sub - Plots makes the Plays interesting.

  English plays are more entertaining and instructive because they offer an element of surprise that the Ancients and the French do not.

  

Conclusion :-  To conclude my Point we can understand that English Drama is more interesting than French Drama. On the other side French writers represents the word ' Just ' like statue is beautiful but it has no life like Absurdity in theatres.

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Assignment Paper No. - 101

 Hello readers ! This blog is Written as a Part of assignment Writing Of Semester 1. This blog is inspired by Dr. Dilip sir Barad, Department Of English , MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss on a topic - " Terminology Of Prostitution in Aphra Behn 's Play - ' The Rover. "

• Name :- Hetal Samirbhai Pathak

• Batch :- M.A Sem - 1 ( 2022 - 2024 )

• Enrollment No.- 4069206420220022

• Roll No. - 10

• Subject Code :- 22392

• Paper No.- 101

• Paper Name :- Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration

• Periods

• E-mail Address :- hetalpathak28@gmail.com

• Submitted to :- Smt. S.B.Gardi, Department of English -

• Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji, Bhavnagar University.

• Date of Submission:- 7th November, 2022.

' Terminology Of Prostitution in Aphra Behn 's - ' The Rover'

• Content of my Assignment:-

1. Introduction

2. What Counts as Prostitutions

3. Terminology of Prostitutions in Aphra Behn 's Play - ' The Rover'

4. Society 's attitude towards Prostitutions

5. Reference of Gangubai Movie

6. Conclusion

7. Work Cited
   

Introduction :-

Aphra Behn was an English Playwright, Poet and Prose Writer from the Restoration era. She received a special Position in the history of invisible and disregarded women

writers. Mrs Behn was a middle Class Woman with all the Plebeian Virtues of humour , Vitality and Courage. She was a woman Forced by the death of her husband and some Unfortunate adventures of her Own to make her living her Wits. Thus Aphra Behn appropriated the literary Profession for Womankind.

Susan Wiseman Writers about her by Saying that;

" Aphra Behn is One Whose Writings both embody the Contradictions of Society and at the same time , Offer a Critique of it. "

We can divide her Study into three Sections.

(1) Poetry (2) Drama (3 ) Fiction

Her drama truly reflects Current affairs, Political Concerns and Social issues. Not only does

Aphra Behn Critically review the merit of marriage for Woman in her drama , but as a woman

dramatist herself She Continuously Comments on her Own role as a Writer and thus

transgressor of Social and Cultural etiquette. She was a Woman who was able to Write

Comedies to be Performed and through these Comedies, She dared to expose her ideas

Publicly in Spite of accusations of Prostitusion.

Aphra Behn Challenged Gender hierarchy not only in her Comedies but also through her

labour as a Female Playwright Whose Plays were Performed Publicly.

" Behn emerged as the First British woman to make a living as a Creative Writer. '

In her Works, She Shows how

difficult it was for her to Write

Plays to be Performed.

Apart from her direct references to

Women 's Unjust Situation in her

Prologues , Behn also

Fought against Women 's

Subordination in Patriarchal Society through the Plots of her

Comedies. She believed that Laughter is the essence of Comedy and humour.

Thus , We Can say that Aphra Behn is an important Contribution to Women's literary history.

The Rover , in full ' The Rover' ; Or ' The Banished Cavaliers' , Restoration Comedy - Written by English Playwright Aphra Behn. This Play Produced and

Published in two Parts in the Years - 1677 and 1681. It is a dark Comedy Which mixes the

themes of Rape and Prostitusion.

This Play depicts the great adventures of a Small group of English Cavaliers. The main

Protagonist of this Play - Charming but Very irresponsible Willmore , Played a very

Important and Vital role throughout the entire Play. Behn Challenges gender hierarchy

through humour in the Play -

' The Rover.' Moreover, through humour Behn's Female Characters become Superior

to male Ones in laughter raising Situations.

• What Counts as Prostitusion :-

Today , Prostitusion is Understood to involve the Provision of Sexual Services in

exchange for money or Other benefits. Deciding What Should Count as ' Prostitusion ' is

not likely to be easy. The Concept of Prostitusion is deeply embedded Within

Cultural, moral and legal Constructs.

Many Commentators have been Concerned about the Fact that the terms - ' Prostitusion '

and 'Prostitute' not only describe but also Often denounce. To call Someone - ' a Prostitute '

Can be highly derogatory. Even as a Purely descriptive term , Prostitusion is Problematic Since

it Seems to apply exclusively to the Practice of selling Sex. That is Why we Would not

Ordinarily Say that a Person Who buys Sex was a Prostitute , Or even that She was engaged

in Prostitusion. We can Understand that Prostitusion is better Understand as a transaction

that involves both a Seller and a buyer.

What does this mean: " Prostitusion is the Cornerstone of Sexual exploitation? " It means that if Prostitusion Which is the most extreme Violation of Women's human

rights Whether or not So - Called ' Consent ' is Present, is not recognized as such then there is

not a hope that any Other Sexual exploitation will ever been effectively

addressed as being harmful to Women. Women Survivors of Prostitute sex are saying that

Prostitute Sex is a Form of rape. One Of the Survivors Says that ;

' Prostitusion is like Rape.'

She Says that She don't Know how else to explain Prostitusion except that it felt like rape to her.

Prostitusion is a male Consumer market. The intense Public Focus on

Women's Will , her Choice or her right to Prostitute deflects attention from the Primary Fac

t that Prostitusion exists First because of male Customer demands. What matters is that there

are Female bodies Provided For Sex exchange. But the question arises here that is -

How or Why they get there is irrelevant to the market?

• Terminology of Prostitusion in Aphra Behn 's Play - ' The Rover ' :-

The Important theme in the Play - ' The Rover ' is Prostitusion. It is Undoubtedly One of the

most important topics of the Play, Since One of the Character - Angelica Bianca is a Prostitute.

There are Other Several Perspectives from Which Prostitusion can be Seen in the Play. Here

we will be Paying attention to is the Following ;

" Why Yes, Sir , they are Whores , though they will be neither entertain With drinking, Swearing or bawdry ; are Whores in all those gay Clothes and right Jewels; are Whores with those great houses richly Furnished with Velvet beds , Store of Plate , handsome attendance and fine Coaches; are Whores and arrant Ones."

-Belville

Here Belville's Statement implies Very Clearly that every Woman , despite her Status in

Society is a Whore. If She behaves like a Prostitute then that is exactly what She will be remain

Forever in her life.

' Once a Whore , always a Whore. '

Not Only Belville thinks that but also most of the Other male Characters in the Play thinks in a

Similar Way. Throughout the Play, there is a Certain generalisation about

Women and about their Status. One example of this is the Scene Where Blunt tries to rape

Florinda Simply because he has been Previously Cheated by ' a fine Ladylike Whore -

Lucceta. ' So, We can Clearly Understand that the actions Of One Particular

Woman have repercussions on another, and thus amusing that all Women are the Same and

they also behave in the Same Way.

Also , it is relevant to mention the ambivalence in the Use of the Word - ' Wench.'

Every Single Woman in the Play , lady or not , are referred to as Wenches. The term may

refer to a Young Woman or to a Prostitute. The Choice of the Words might not be as random

it seems, and in that Case it Would Support the idea that every woman is a Whore until Proved

Otherwise. The Second Vision Of Prostitution Focuses on the Perspective Of One of the

Character - Angelica Bianca and on the reason that Why she is in that Particular Position in

her life.

" But inconstancy 's the Sin Of all mankind , therefore I am resolved that nothing but gold Shell Charms my heart. "

- Angelica Bianca

If we Focus Only on this Quotation that was made by her , it is very much Clear that

Angelica's Situation has been a Choice She made by herself. In Fact, it is by being a Whore that

She gets to be the Only Financially Stable and independent Woman in the Play. The Figure Of

the Prostitute in this Play - ' The Rover ' Presents a different type

of Woman. Although She is regarded as a Whore , Angelica Stands in a Certain Position Of

Power and Money , For all men want to have a Physical relation With her , but not all of them

can due to the high Cost Of her Services.

When Angelica Falls in Love With Willmore and gives herself to him For free , at that time

delusional Powerful Position Vanishes. The Objectification of Women is inherent to

Prostitusion, and as Such it is Present in the Play - ' The Rover.' However, In the Play it Seems

to be Certain Switch Of roles between Women and men,

and there are these things Which we can notice. On the One hand , there was One Scene in the

Play Where Hellena expresses Very Openly that She Just wants to go to the Carnival to find a

man With Whom She can have Sex. On the other hand , there is the Character of Willmore. At

One Point in the Play he Sleeps with Angelica Bianca and gets money from her afterwards.

Although She gives it to him Out Of love, Willmore does not have any Feeling for her

Whatsoever. Thus , he is given money in exchange Of Sex.

We Can say that Women are deprived of identity being " the Wife of " Or just ' a Whore.

' Aphra Behn herself Was Sometimes Seen as a Prostitute for being a Public Figure. By

Criticising and Presenting Angelica Bianca as a Strong and independent

character at the beginning in the Play, it Could be Stated that She was also questioning the

Functioning Of Society, and the role of Women in it during the Restoration times.

• Society 's attitude towards Prostitusion :-

If We look at Society's ViewPoints and think about the term - Prostitusion we come to know

many things about it. Many People and especially those With Conservative ,

religious Views believe that Prostitusion is immoral because it involves Sex for money and they

Consider Prostitusion as a Sign of Society 's Moral decay. Many Feminists also believed that

Prostitusion is degrading to Women and Provides a Context in which Prostitutes are robbed ,

beaten and raped. The People hold very Strong and negative Views about Prostitusion. People

think that Prostitusion Should remain illegal, and they generally Prefer Stricter enforcement

of laws against Prostitusion.

People do not like Prostitusion, but they believe that the laws against Prostitusion do more

harm than good. They think that legalising Prostitusion would reduce the Various harms that

Prostitusion Causes and they believe that Views about the immorality Of Prostitusion Should

not Prevent Our Society From dealing more Wisely with it than it does now.

As We all know that Prostitusion is looked Upon as Something very bad in Our Society. But,

We need to Understand that Prostitution is a two way thing. The majority of Prostitutes are

Female and have male Clients. It is a two way thing but Yet we always put all the blame on the

Prostitutes.

' Reference of Gangubai Movie :- '

Gangubai is a Bollywood movie based on real life incidents of a Prostitute named as Gangu.

It is Said that ' Kathiyawad mein kabhi ki raat nahi hoti kyunki Gangubai rehti hain ' . Which

is a way to depict her glory and Popularity. Throughout the Storyline it is Witnessed she along

with her mates and Friends is trying to seek the

respect in the Society. She also tries to get all the Children of Prostitutes into a School to

Study , where she that it's not necessary to have a Father in Order to get admission into a

School. They require money to Pay the Fees and the Willingness to learn Which the

Children already Possess.

In a Public Gathering She with emphasis has stated that ' Prostitution is as normal as any other business and in a Way makes Society a Safe Place to live as many a times

women are Saved from rape just because Prostitution is in existence. Women Who are selling

their body are in a way helpless and don't have enough skills to work elsewhere.

Gangubai even says that they all are selling their bodies just like other businessmen endorse

their Products.

Apart From Gangubai Kathiyawadi movie Begum Janan is one Such movie based on

Prostitutes and their Struggles to Protect their brothel and at the end of the movie they

even lock themselves in the brothel which is burning in great Flames of Fire. These things

depict their great dedication towards their own Profession and how they make a living through

it and without it their Survival would be tough.

Conclusion

To Conclude my topic I would like to say that Prostitusion reveals inconsistent Pre Modern

thinking on male and Female Sexuality. Hence, Prostitution is Surely not a Practise to

encourage , but because of in the Society is at Peace , except for certain Complaints and

Problems. People need to refresh their minds and they Consider the

Prostitutes as a Part of Our Society Which is Completely wrong. As Prostitutin is a two

• way thing. Yet , we Put all blame on Female Prostitutes. The Society will never accept the

• Word - ' Prostitusion. '
  

• Work Cited :-

Bhansali, Sanjay leela, director. Gangubai Kathiyawadi. 2022. Accessed 7 November 2022.

Green, Stuart P. “What counts as prostitution.” 2016,

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307444812_What_Count

_as_Prostitution. Accessed 7 November 2022.

Wiseman, Susan J. Aphra Behn, vol. 8, no. 1, 1997, p. 3,

https://www.jstor.org/stable/20719676. Accessed 7 November 2022.

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