It seems like we (Hust girls) cannot get away from this theme of violence. Halfway through the reading of Oronooko, I sighed to my roommate about the love story I was reading for class...I should have known better! The violence thahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gift appears in the end of Oroonoko (the killing of Imoinda, the whipping and self-inflicted wounds of Oronooko, etc.) seems to me like it continues the theme of tragic endings that so characterized this period of writing. Shakespeare began the tradition in the late 1500's with his tragic plays, and Behn seems to have at least been slightly influenced by that genre in the 1680's, considering the ending of the play. I found one article even highlighting the similarities between Oronooko and classic Greek romances.However, the graphic nature of the text is still appalling:
"All that Love cou'd say in such cases, being ended; and all the intermitting Irresolutions being adjusted, the Lovely, Young, and Ador'd Victim lays her self down, before the Sacrificer; while he, with a Hand resolv'd, and a Heart breaking within, gave the Fatal Stroke; first, cutting her Throat, and then severing her yet Smiling Face from that Delicate body, pregnant as it was with Fruits of tend'rest Love." (p. 61)
Not only is Oronooko killing his wife, he kills his unborn child-and then decapitates the mother! Even more interesting here is Behn's use of loving, tender words and descriptions, which make the horrific murder scene even more gruesome in contrast. Additionally, she capitalizes certain words to add emphasis, a style I found myself enjoying more and more while reading. Was this style characteristic of Behn's time, or originally her own?
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