The Rover

by

Aphra Behn

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Angelica’s Picture Symbol Analysis

Angelica’s Picture Symbol Icon
Every day, Angelica commands her servants to display pictures of herself in front of her house, so all the citizens of Naples can admire her beauty. Once she falls in love with Willmore, however, she ceases to do so. These pictures represent not only her vanity, but also her sense of self. The courtesan stops displaying them because she has fully given herself to Willmore and so is no longer “giving herself” to anyone else—a disastrous decision, as she soon learns.

Angelica’s Picture Quotes in The Rover

The The Rover quotes below all refer to the symbol of Angelica’s Picture. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Gender Roles Theme Icon
).
Act 2, Scene 1 Quotes

How wondrous fair she is—a Thousand Crowns a Month—by Heaven as many Kingdoms were too little. A plague of this Poverty—of which I ne’er complain, but when it hinders my Approach to Beauty, which Virtue ne’er could purchase.

Related Characters: Willmore (speaker), Angelica
Related Symbols: Angelica’s Picture
Page Number: 177
Explanation and Analysis:
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Angelica’s Picture Symbol Timeline in The Rover

The timeline below shows where the symbol Angelica’s Picture appears in The Rover. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 2, Scene 1
Class and Money Theme Icon
They arrive at Angelica’s house, and Belvile notes that her portrait “is not out” (usually Angelica leaves a picture of herself outside of her door in... (full context)
Love vs. Lust Theme Icon
Class and Money Theme Icon
Two servants (called Bravos) enter and hang three pictures of Angelica up onstage: one on her balcony, and two smaller ones on each side... (full context)
Love vs. Lust Theme Icon
Seemingly entranced, Willmore pulls down one of the pictures of Angelica, explaining the desire it has incited in him. The bravo tells him to... (full context)
Gender Roles Theme Icon
Love vs. Lust Theme Icon
Class and Money Theme Icon
...Antonio may have a thousand crowns to pay for Angelica himself, he will keep the picture. (full context)
Love vs. Lust Theme Icon
Wit and Language Theme Icon
...that it is she who has wounded him with her beauty, and that only her picture can save him. (full context)
Act 2, Scene 2
Gender Roles Theme Icon
Love vs. Lust Theme Icon
Class and Money Theme Icon
Inside her house, Angelica demands to know why Wilmore pulled down her picture; he responds by questioning why she dared to leave it outside, asking if she meant... (full context)
Act 3, Scene 1
Gender Roles Theme Icon
Deceit and Disguise Theme Icon
Belvile, Frederick, and Blunt enter and immediately notice that Angelica’s picture has been removed. Blunt believes that Angelica may have been kind to Willmore, while Belvile... (full context)
Love vs. Lust Theme Icon
Deceit and Disguise Theme Icon
...must depart. Quickly, Florinda leaves Belvile the jewel, which as it turns out contains a picture of her. Wilmore, too, bids goodbye to Hellena, saying that he must see her tomorrow. (full context)