The Not So Domestic Goddess

Even Barbie Does It

This is my second reading of Eliza Haywood's Fantomina and it still amazes me how easily Beauplaisir was fooled. I know we all have different personas to fit various situations but I'm quite sure the people around us still know who we are. Perhaps all the blood has rushed to one part of Mr. Beauplasir's body and it has caused him to have blurred vision (sorry, just had to say it).

I'm sure we have all experienced a time when we acted differently because of the freedom afforded us by a costume, so it is easy to see why Fantomina acted so differently when she was in disguise. The disguises allow Fantomina to share, for a short time, the male privilege of openly desiring someone. Without the disguise, Fantomina would have to wait until the person she desired approached her and that may never happen. By being in disguise, Fantomina can still keep her virtuous persona in her real life and explore her more adventurous side in her fantasy life. The only problem with this scenario is reality enters into her fantasy world and Beauplasir lives up to his name and pleasures himself.

Fantomina then tries to take control and turns sex-roles upside down by repeatedly disguising herself to seduce the man who first seduces/rapes her. She asserts her female passion and her determination to control the relationship between herself and gullible Beauplaisir is somewhat surprising in literature of the period. Haywood is clearly aware of the imbalance between the positions of power of men and women involved in romantic relationships. Fantomina is playing a game that she cannot win, though men may do so, and women may wish they could.

posted by Lucy @ 4:37 AM