Does she deserve a Red "A"?

One of the most common themes I have found within older works of literature is the theme of adultery; the Scarlet Letter being the most commonly read story. In The History of The Nun it was clear that society put a lot of stress on the value of a reputation. The stressors put on Isabella by society and the pressures put on her by the people surrounding her lead to a mental breakdown. Many would say she had a "psychotic" breakdown, but the definition of entering psychosis is a disconnection from reality. The fact that she sees consequences, understands them, and fears them shows a very clear thought process. There was no psychotic breakdown, there is no insanity, there is no losing her mind.

She was simply a woman that was pushed to her breaking point and Aphra Behn is bringing attention to what these events would actually do to a person. No one else, from Marie de France to some earlier writers, truly took into account what the story lines would do to a person. All characters were quite effected, and all stories have some sort of tradegy, but for the first time it is clear a more realistic stance is being taken.