Chidinma Widow Ranter

Aphra Behn’s play, The Widow Ranter, is a tragicomedy heroizing Francis Bacon as he leads the colonization of American Indian land. One of the most interesting parts of the play is the lack of cultural connection the Indians have with the land. Though Behn’s understanding of pre-colonial America is limited, she did have the opportunity to live in Surinam (“Aphra Behn”), a British colony in South America. In this response paper, The Accuracy of Semernia in The Widow Ranter, I will argue how the depiction of Queen Semernia could be made more accurate by shifting her characterization from a Eurocentric view. The passage I will be drawing from is in Act 2 Scene 1: “Queen: I’ll talk no more, our Words exchange our Souls, and every Look fades all my blooming Honour, like Sun-beams on unguarded Roses—Take all our Kingdoms —make our People Slaves, and let me fall beneath your conquering Sword: but never let me hear you talk again, or gaze upon your Eyes.—”

Behn’s description of American Indians is a point of controversy as it is too simplified. Native American culture values spiritual connection to the land and other living beings. As a result, leadership evolves around such values. The leaders are often public servants who uphold these values according to the American Indian Research and Policy Institute. To play an accurate Semernia, her character would have to be more concerned with the land and would never say that Bacon could seize her communities’ land in the name of their love. Her willingness to cast her community off as slaves is also a troubling depiction. While there are accounts of slavery within Native American tribes in this period, the relationship between Native Americans and the English were contentious. The map from our archives along with this complementary passage from the Library of Congress explains that Native Americans attempted peace with English visitors but switched tactics when they realized the English settlers planned to divide their land. Due to the relationship between English settlers and Native Americans at this time, it’s unlikely that Semernia would offer her people into slavery. Her character should hold more vitriol towards Bacon, especially considering the context of the battle he is waging against them.

In conclusion, Queen Semerinia’s character reflects English values in action and description. To situate her story in the time period, her character should reflect the animosity Native Americans had towards settlers intent on colonizing the land that holds spiritual value to them. Semernia should reflect her cultural values by protecting her land and not offering it or her people to the hands of settlers.

Works Cited

American Indian Research and Policy Institute. “Traditional American Indian Leadership: A Comparison with U.S. Governance.” Navajo Courts, www.navajocourts.org/Harmonization/Traditional%20American%20Indian%20Leadership.pdf. Accessed 11 Oct. 2020.

“Aphra Behn | Encyclopedia.Com.” Encyclopedia, www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/english-literature-1500-1799-biographies/aphra-behn. Accessed 11 Oct. 2020.

“Virginia’s Early Relations with Native Americans | Colonial Settlement, 1600s - 1763 | U.S. History Primary Source Timeline | Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/colonial-settlement-1600-1763/virginia-relations-with-native-americans. Accessed 11 Oct. 2020.