The Monk - Matthew Lewis

I chose to read this book for my spooky October reading. I rarely read pre-Victorian literature, and The Monk was published in 1796, when Gothic novels were becoming increasingly popular. It is one of the most notorious Gothic novels of its time.

Although the writing style feels old-fashioned, I enjoyed it very much, I gradually became intrigued by the horror, mystery, and disturbing events unfolding in the story. With every page, I grew more curious about what would happen next. Before I knew it, I found myself reading a real page-turner! 

Capuchin monastery, Madrid.

The story begins with all eyes on Ambrosio, the abbot of the Capuchin monastery in Madrid. The people gathered in the cathedral seem deeply impressed by him, showing great admiration and respect. However, this admiration is based largely on his outward appearance and reputation. As the story unfolds, we gradually discover that Ambrosio is far from the perfect religious figure people believe him to be. Behind his public image of holiness lies a deeply flawed man who eventually surrenders to temptation.

The Capuchin monastery and the Convent of St. Clare are two important settings in the novel. Although they are separate religious institutions, they are situated close to one another, creating an interesting connection between the lives of the monks and the nuns.

Many times, the author refers to Lorenzo as "our hero." Lorenzo is a young nobleman who is admired for his good character, he meets Raymond, and their friendship becomes another interesting part of the narrative. The repeated description of Lorenzo as "our hero" makes me wonder: who is actually the villain of this novel?

I find the female characters in this story particularly interesting. First, there is Matilda, who seems to embody the femme fatale archetype. Is she simply a seductive woman, or is she actually a tempting, almost demonic figure who leads others into sin?

Then we have Antonia, a young, beautiful, and innocent woman who admires the Abbot, although her admiration is purely religious. She also hopes that Lorenzo will eventually marry her. 

St. Clara Convent

Finally, there is Agnes, Lorenzo's sister, who I find to be the most interesting female character so far. She was destined to become a nun from birth because of a vow made by her dying mother. In other words, Agnes entered the convent not out of her own choice or religious calling, but because of a promise her mother had made to God. This makes me wonder whether it is fair for someone to have their future and freedom decided by another person's religious vow. I believe there is a difference between religious commitment and being a good person.Someone may leave a religious vow but still live a good life, love someone, get married, raise a family, and treat others kindly. Does breaking a religious promise automatically make someone a bad person? For me, faith should come from personal belief, not simply from an obligation imposed by others.

Although this novel has many flashbacks explaining the backgrounds of its main characters, such as the story of how Raymond first met Lorenzo's aunt, then Agnes, the love of his life, and the story of the Bleeding Nun. These are all quite long stories, but when I finished reading them, everything made sense. The author is not just telling the story of the religious hypocrisy and the intrigue in a place of worship, but also building the elements that make a gothic novel, ready to jump-scare the reader with folk tales and real ghosts.

Reading The Monk makes me think about the difference between suppressing desire and overcoming it. Sexual desire is a natural human feeling, but what happens when someone dedicates his life to God and chooses not to marry? Does he have to resist these feelings forever, or learn to live with them without being controlled by them? Looking at Ambrosio, I wonder whether he has truly overcome his desires or simply suppressed them for years. When he finally experiences temptation, he seems unable to control himself. Perhaps this is the difference between suppressing a desire and truly overcoming it.

It makes me think about the concept of desensitisation, introduced by psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe in the late 1950s. It explains how repeated exposure to something can gradually weaken our emotional reactions to it. When a person commits a sin for the first time, they may feel strong guilt, fear, and regret. However, when they repeat the same action, these feelings may become weaker. Eventually, something that once troubled their conscience may start to feel normal. I can see a connection with Ambrosio in The Monk: perhaps the most frightening part of his downfall is not his first wrongdoing, but how he gradually becomes accustomed to his own sins.

In conclusion, I think Lewis is criticising human beings for their inability to control their natural desires rather than criticising religion itself. I don't want to judge whether these religious teachings are right or wrong. After all, every religion teaches good values. While reading this novel, I think it is important to distinguish between religion itself and the actions of the people who practise it.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬✬(5/5)

Title :  The Monk

Author : Matthew Gregory Lewis

Publisher : Wordsworth Classics
Year : August 15, 2009, (First Published in 1796)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 336 pages
ISBN : 9781840221855