At the Edge of Existence. Transgressive Spatialities that Subvert Expectations and Orders in Aphra Behn’s The Fair Jilt and The History of the Nun
Abstract
Throughout history, the figure of the nun has exerted an incredible fascination on writers, much like the mysterious and inaccessible places where they resided – specifically nunneries. However, the dichotomous nature of convents and monasteries – confinement and freedom – is a fundamental element through which these spaces could be reimagined. Indeed, these institutions are of great scholarly importance because they stand at the intersection of different social and cultural spheres and serve as a reflection of perspectives on gender, religion, and politics. This is perfectly illustrated in Aphra Behn’s The Fair Jilt (1688) and The History of the Nun (1689). In her novellas, Behn compares the experiences of women living in enclosed spaces to highlight the contradictory liminal spaces where legitimate socio-cultural forms are reshaped.
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