Women in Restoration Culture Flashcards

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Before the Restoration, who usually played women’s roles in English theatres?

Boy actors played women’s parts, because women were not allowed on the public stage.

What new chance did the reopening of theatres in 1660 give to women?

Women were allowed to work as professional actresses on the public stage for the first time.

Why did some people think actresses made Restoration theatre more shocking?

Actresses appeared in love scenes and sometimes wore men’s clothes in “breeches roles”. This seemed bold and rude to people used to an all-male stage.

Who was Nell Gwynn and why is she important in Restoration culture?

Nell Gwynn was a popular actress who became a mistress of Charles II. She showed how a woman from a poor background could gain fame and influence at court.

How did royal mistresses gain power at Charles II’s court?

They were close to the king and could ask him to give jobs, money or titles to their friends and family. This gave some women real political influence.

Who was Catherine of Braganza and how did she shape life at court?

She was Charles II’s Portuguese wife and queen. She helped make tea-drinking and new fashions popular, but her Catholic faith also caused tension.

Who was Aphra Behn and why was she a groundbreaking woman?

Aphra Behn was one of the first women in England to earn a living as a professional writer. Her plays, like “The Rover”, showed strong female characters and questioned double standards between men and women.

What did Margaret Cavendish do that was unusual for a woman interested in science?

She wrote books about science and philosophy and visited a meeting of the Royal Society. This was rare, as most scientific work and groups shut women out.

How did more women learning to read affect culture in Restoration England?

More women, especially in towns, learned to read. They could enjoy plays, poems and religious books, which helped spread new ideas among women.

Despite a few famous women, what limits still faced most women in Restoration England?

Most women were expected to marry, obey their husbands and run the home. The law gave husbands control over their wives’ property, so most women had little formal power.

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