The History of the Nun - Aphra Behn

“The History of the Nun” by Aphra Behn explores the contradictions in one woman’s life, beginning with her devout dedication to the church and ending with double-murders and her death by beheading. This woman, Isabella, is a study in maintaining social expectation while disregarding personal motivation. The author sheds light on this aspect of Isabella’s character during her premeditated murders by writing, “But when fate begins to afflict, she goes throughstitch with her black work” (Behn 186). The word “fate” here implies that Isabella believes there is an outside influence apart from her control causing her to commit these horrible crimes to the men she married. In believing “fate” to be the reason for her crimes, Isabella can attempt to lead a life where she is absolved of guilt and can maintain her innocence in the eyes of her community.

Isabella’s use of “fate” is ironic because the murders she committed were one of the very few actions in her life chosen by free will without the influence of others. Every previous aspect of her life can be traced to an outside influence guiding her and influencing her decisions. The murders, however, are the only actions by Isabella that she is wholly responsible for; the reader witnesses her planning the murder of Henault, the execution of suffocating him and then attaching his body to Villenoys, and the concealment of the truth to her community.