Chapter Analysis Of Matthew Gregory Lewis The Monk

The setting emerges at night and the only source of light appears from a single candle that is in the hand of the monk, who stares at a young woman asleep on a sofa. Matthew Gregory Lewis was twenty years old when the novel, The Monk in 1796, it was known as the goriest novel during the Gothic Era. However, Lewis was later revealed to be the author of this Gothic novel, which caused a scandal and controversy. Yet the novel is Gothic due to the setting of a dark castle, a damsel in distress, also the air of supernatural with Ambrosio. Chapter two of the novel is about the mental battle the monk forgoes before making his final decision to pursue the lovely maiden in another room. Lewis immerses the reader into the monk’s mind to understand his

Yet, the monk in chapter two is corrupt with lust, pride, and even abandons the idea of God; giving the reader no hope that the monk is a righteous man. Pride is evident when he is introduced with ‘the reality of pride’ or ‘to the indulgence of his vanity’. However, pride is personified as a haunting voice, for “pride told him loudly that he was superior to the rest of his fellow creatures” (Lewis). Also the vocabulary of the monk uses such as “creature”, “power”, and “superiority” is evidence for characteristics of the Gothic Era. The emotions of the monk slow builds and his mind wanders to the opinion of God, who is viewed as unequal and less to Ambrosio (female demon) that haunts his mind. He also views the church as boring and completely shuns God for he thinks, “I must accustom my eyes to objects of temptation, and expose myself to the seduction of luxury and desire” (Lewis). Still, his lust fulfills his mind making him go into a crazed and monstrous state. The monk finally utters his first words with, “What beauty in that countenance!” as if his thoughts finally explode as he looks at the young Virgin in allusion to the Virgin Mary when it is actually a picture of the young maiden. He continues to affirm the reader of his intention’s when his description of the young maiden; such as “…it is not the woman’s beauty that fills me with such enthusiasm”