The Rover

Aphra Behn’s play The Rover, or The Banished Cavaliers, debuted in London in 1677 with King Charles II in attendance; The Rover was reportedly one of his favorite plays. In Restoration England, theatre was a political act, particularly when a play was written by a woman and openly defied Puritan conservatism. Beginning in 1642, the Puritan-run Parliament had banned theatre, partially because they viewed it as sinful and financially excessive, and partially because the theatre was traditionally pro-royalist. The monarchy’s restoration in 1660 under Charles II ushered in the near-immediate return of the English stage. The Restoration Era (1660-c.1710), as it became known, launched the domination of Restoration Comedies in English theatres—a marked response to the ongoing wars and mirthless morality of the Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell.

The Rover has endured as one of the most famous comedies from the Restoration period. It was revived frequently after it premiered and, in the first half of the 1700s, it appeared in every season except one between 1703 and 1743.

The Rover is based on Thomas Killigrew’s Thomaso, or the Wanderer (c. 1654), which was a “closet drama,” meaning a play that was written to be read rather than staged. Killigrew wrote the play based on his own experiences as a cavalier for King Charles II living in Madrid. In a less-celebrated sequel, The Rover, Part II (1681), Hellena has died at sea, setting Willmore free for more romantic adventures.

This study guide uses the Drama Classics edition published by Nick Hern Books.

Content Warning: The Rover contains two instances of attempted sexual assault and addresses themes related to sexual violence.

Plot Summary

It is Carnival in Spanish-ruled Naples in the 1650s. An English captain named Willmore—the “rover” of the play’s title—meets up with his fellow exiled cavaliers, Belvile and Frederick, and their friend Blunt, in the hopes of finding temporary romance before returning to the ship. Belvile is hopelessly in love with a young Spanish noblewoman named Florinda, who loves him back, but whose father wishes her to marry a wealthy old Spaniard she despises. Her sister, Hellena, is meant to join the nunnery once the revels end. Hellena is desperate to escape becoming a nun, or to at least experience love along the way.

Florinda and Hellena’s brother, Don Pedro, tries to save Florinda by planning a quick wedding to his wealthy and powerful friend Don Antonio, but Florinda only loves Belvile. Florinda, Hellena, and their cousin Valeria take advantage of the masked costumes to sneak out and enjoy Carnival. Florinda surreptitiously informs Belvile of her escape plot while Hellena, hidden behind a mask, falls in love with Willmore, who is drawn to her but is also easily distracted. Willmore casually steals the heart of Angellica, a famous and expensive courtesan who has never allowed herself to fall in love before. Meanwhile, Blunt falls in love with Lucetta and refuses to heed his friends’ warnings that she is a sex worker.

Everything soon goes wrong. Willmore, while drunk, stumbles upon a woman in her garden and, not knowing she’s Florinda waiting for Belvile, attempts to rape her. The lovers’ escape plot is foiled; Willmore tries to make amends by attacking Don Antonio, the rival for Florinda’s hand. Meanwhile, Lucetta lures Blunt to strip naked and takes everything he has. Humiliated and angry, Blunt vows revenge on all women. Due to mistaken identity, Belvile wins Florinda’s hand in a duel, but Don Pedro refuses to accept the betrothal.

Florinda escapes and finds herself in Blunt’s house. Blunt decides to express his anger toward Lucetta by raping and beating Florinda. Frederick and Willmore, thinking Blunt has a sex worker, want to take part too. To defend herself, Florinda hands Blunt a ring that Belvile gave her, which makes Blunt hesitate, now unsure of Florinda’s social status. Belvile arrives with Don Pedro and cannot reveal Florinda’s identity in front of him without giving her away. Once Don Pedro leaves, all is cleared up and the men apologize to Florinda. A priest marries Florinda to Belvile and Valeria to Frederick. Angellica arrives and almost shoots Willmore, but Don Antonio enters and stops her. Hellena and Willmore decide to get married too. With no other choice, Don Pedro offers them all his best wishes.