Aphra Behn's Emperor of the Moon and It's French Source Arlequin, Empereur dans la Lune

by Aphra Behn

Aphra Behn’s spectacular farce, Emperor of the Moon (1687), so engaged audiences that it was restaged well into the eighteenth century. Her play was largely adapted from Anne Mauduit de Fatouville’s Arlequin, Empereur dans la lune (1684), a commedia dell’arte production by the Comédie-Italienne troupe, a performance which also proved immensely popular with Parisian audiences. Within its witty and amusing three acts, Behn’s play explores a number of contemporary concerns — from commedia dell’arte , to gender and politics, to science and astronomy, including a plurality of worlds, for example — all culminating in the third act’s operatic spectacle. This volume offers a transcription of Behn’s 1687 play with extensive annotations, a critical discussion of Behn’s text, and the first English translation of Fatouville’s eight French and Italian scenes.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Classics

165 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1687

About the author

Aphra Behn, or Ayfara Behn, of the first professional women authors in English on Britain wrote plays, poetry, and her best known work, the prose fiction Oroonoko (1688).

Aphra Behn was a prolific dramatist of the Restoration and was one of the female. Her contributed to the amatory genre of literature. People sometimes refer to Delarivier Manley, Eliza Haywood, and her as part of "the fair triumvirate of wit."

In reckoning of Adeline Virginia Stephen Woolf, more important total career of Behn produced any particular work. Woolf wrote, "All women together, ought to let flowers fall upon the grave of Aphra Behn … for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds." Victoria Mary Sackville-West called Behn "an inhabitant of Grub Street with the best of them, … a phenomenon never seen and … furiously resented." Felix Shelling called her "a very gifted woman, compelled to write for bread in an age in which literature … catered habitually to the lowest and most depraved of human inclinations. Her success depended upon her ability to write like a man." Edmund Gosse remarked that "the George Sand of the Restoration" lived the bohemian life in London in the 17th century as Paris two centuries later.

Reviews

[Nastya Nikitina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the language is rather difficult to follow for a modern reader, the play was simple enough in its ideas, carrying a clever message behind it that is not initially apparent. The main conclusion is that we truly don't know anything rings true no matter how many centuries pass.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this play. It's ridiculous and hilarious and excessive and silly and smart. I wish I could see it performed.

[Sruthi]

my favorite aphra behn so far !!

(only 3 acts and never published standalone so i’ll admit i’m shamelessly inflating my reading challenge number)

[Mike Szczepanik · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining farce that makes me want to read more of Behn's work

A fast-paced, entertaining story that I now look forward to seeing performed on stage. Behn's capable, highly amusing retelling of this story has piqued my interest in her other works.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this play that will be performed by Actors' Theatre here in Columbus next summer. Young love triumphs over the foolishness of elders with comedy and costumes.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't care what anyone says this is perfection

[Geo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Victoria Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this play at 3 this morning and woke up to talk about it in a meeting at 8 am if that tells you anything.

[chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

this play is lots of fun but i sincerely cannot wait until the day when finals are over and i never have to think about it again.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This classic comedy by Behn is also one of her most witty. I love the lines, such as that by the Doctor when describing Scaramouch, This fellow has a glimpse of profundity.” Behn often addressed society in terms of those with power and those without, old vs. young, men vs. women, the upper class vs. the lower class. In this comedy, young ultimately triumphs. Her phrasing and the way she sets up her conflicts, however, are what are most interesting to me about Behn’s play. My favorite line in any Behn work is uttered by Charmante in this play, “Nothing shows the wit so poor, as wonder, nor birth so mean, as pride.” Recommended for lovers of British Restoration drama.


See my other reviews here!

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a typical farce – light hearted, rather silly and devoid of most purpose. It is rescued though, by the intelligent and witty Elaria, Bellamante and Mopsophil. In farcical Plautian fashion, play is about the women and their servant tricking their father/uncle into allowing them to marry the beaus of their choice. There is much silliness as the father/uncle believe inhabitants of the moon have come down to visit him. There could be a statement about believing outrageous things, but that opportunity is missed for the most part.

The original French play, Arlequin, Empereur dans la lune, is more so a star vehicle for the fast-talking, comic Arlequin character. This play is a bit more earthy, let’s say. With some stage business, I’m sure it would be very funny.

Overall, these are interesting works. If you are interested in theatre history, I would recommend it. If not, there are better farces you could read.