OROONOKO AND OTHER WRITINGS is now my favorite of the summer reading for 18th century class. the section below caught my interest--i was already into the piece for the plot, but the lines below cemented my interest in behn's writing:
This was delivered to the still doubting captain, who could not resolve to trust a heathen, he said, upon his parole, a man that had no sense or notion of the God that he worshiped. Oroonoko then replied, he was very sorry to hear that the captain pretended to the knowledge and worship of any gods, who had taught him no better principles than not to credit as he would be credited. But they told him, the difference of their faith occasioned that distrust: for the captain had protested to him upon the word of a Christian, and sworn in the name of a great God; which if he should violate, he would expect eternal torment in the world to come. "Is that all the obligation he has to be just to his oath?" replied Oroonoko. "Let him know, I swear by my honor; which to violate would not only render me contemptible and despised by all brave and honest men, and so give myself perpetual pain, but it would be eternally offending and displeasing all mankind; harming, betraying, circumventing, and outraging all men. But punishments hereafter are suffered by one's self; and the world takes no cognizance whether this God have revenged 'em, or not, 'tis done so secretly, and deferred so long: while the man of no honor suffers every moment the scorn and contempt of the honester world, and dies every day ignominiously in his fame, which is more valuable than life. I speak not this to move belief, but to show you how you mistake, when you imagine that he who will violate his honor will keep his word with his gods." So, turning from him with a disdainful smile, he refused to answer him, when he urged him to know what answer he should carry back to his captain; so that he departed without saying any more.
this in the 18th century!
besides this novella, i've read her included poems (...eh) and most of "the fair jilt" (yay and like a lot). "the fair jilt," so far, is about a bitchy young "galloping nun" who cries rape on a poor young monk, who has already lost the love of his life to his brother. this story is entertaining because of the way behn treats love. love ruins you. everyone around you will take advantage of you. you cannot avoid the pain that other people will cause you--especially young ladies who like fops.
that's another thing about this story: every chance possible, the narrator rails against foppery. metro is the new fop.
i'm sure there are things to not like about behn, and i'll bring them up later if they are significant.