Rewrite

The novel The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis has numerous themes. One of the major themes is fluidity of gender. In society, males are perceived to be strong, dominant, determined, and resilient while females are expected to be sensitive, emotional, nurturing, and weak. However, this is not the case in this novel. Throughout the novel, men are portrayed to be more feminine while women are portrayed to be more masculine. In some instances, there is duality of gender. Some characters show both feminine and masculine characteristics. The author illustrates this throughout the novel using Ambrosia and Matilda.

In the beginning of the novel, Ambrosio is seen as a strong character. He is looked up to and is seen as a very religious person and is known by the name “The man of holiness.” (7) Since he was raised in the monastery from a really young age, he is known to have not sinned. People from all over the city gathered to hear his speech and he is respected and perceived to be highly intellectual. “Ambrosio’s character is perfectly without reproach; and a man who has passed the whole of his life within the walls of a convent cannot have found opportunity to be guilty.” (10) Furthermore, people believed him to have come from God or have supernatural abilities because of the way he got dropped of at the door of monastery. So right of the bat, Ambrosio is introduced to be very powerful, influential, and strong. However, once Matilda reveals her true identity to him and shows him part of her body “accidentally” he gives in to the temptation. He had the power to stick to his religious values and turn her in. But, Matilda lures him and he develops some emotional attachment towards her. He makes a choice to listen to her and not turn her in. “I can resist no longer! Stay then, enchantress! Stay for my destruction!” (41) This act is where we begin to see Ambrosio’s weakness come about. He knows that this act will lead him to destruction, yet he chooses to allow Matilda have control over his life. He becomes sensitive to Matilda. Matilda influences him instead of him being an influence on her. After this incident he becomes more sensitive to temptations and eventually gives Satan power over his soul. “ I must – Fate urges me – I accept your conditions.” (287) This clearly shows signs of weakness on his end compared to the beginning of the novel. This is how Lewis developed this theme through Ambrosio.

Fluidity of gender is also seen in Matilda. When she is first introduced, she acts very feminine. “Ah, father how willingly would I unveil to you my heart! How willingly would I declare the secret, which bows me down with its weight! But, oh, I fear, I fear.” (36) The preceding quote shows even the feminine language Rosario uses. But this is only until she gets the job done which is to lure Ambrosio. Before Matilda reveals her female identity, she listens to Ambrosio and looks up to him as a mentor. Ambrosio is clearly seen as a dominant person in their relationship. But, once Ambrosio falls trap to her, Matilda becomes dominant in their relationship. Ambrosio allows himself to be manipulated by her and he continues to listen to her even after she reveals that she is from the Satan. Even still, till the end Ambrosio had a choice to prevent Satan to have power over him. But, he is too weak and is not as resilient as he was before. Since then, Matilda continues to have influence over Ambrosio to the point where Ambrosio is too weak to help himself get out of it. “Ambrosio took up the pen. He set it to the parchment. Again his courage failed him; he felt a pang of terrors at his heart, and once more he threw the pen upon the table.” (287) Even when he had choice to take control of his life and become dominant, he is unable to do so because he is too weak. Furthermore, the Satan influences Matilda and it is evident throughout the novel, that she carefully articulated everything since the beginning to manipulate Ambrosio. So, as the story progresses, Matilda becomes more powerful and has a huge influence on Ambrosio.

Unlike other gothic novels, where main characters often play a dominant role and remain dominant throughout, in The Monk, the main character Ambrosio takes upon both feminine and masculine characteristics and has a terrible end to his life. He dies in a weak, helpless, and sorrowful way. Whereas, Matilda presumes a feminine character in the beginning, but it is only to lure Ambrosio, and the Satan who influences her drives her to develop a strong dominant masculine character as the story develops.