How Does Lewis Create Tension In The Monk

The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis uses vividly gory imagery of a monk’s incest, rape and murder to argue that any man could be led to a sinful life. It is debated oftentimes that the most innocent people are the guilty ones. The plot demonstrates tension between the church and sin because there is an expectation of purity for someone in Ambrosio’s position. The Monk uses historical background to emphasize sexual repression leading to sin, especially within religious devotees. Additionally, The Monk exemplifies sinful lives being driven from believing that God exists, but not acting upon it. The Monk begins with Ambrosio, one of the most distinguished and virtuous monks in the city, teaching to the church. In this moment, he falls in love

Because the monk, Ambrosio, was one of the highest distinguished religious leaders, the most innocent people may be the guilty ones. As a monk, one of his main goals would have been to live a perfect life of service and peace. In this novel, the monk was raised by Capuchins and supposedly obtained “singular holiness” (Gonda 1). Lorenzo describes that Ambrosio “is reported to be so strict an observer of Chastity, that he knows not in what consists the difference of man and woman” (Lewis 16). Therefore, Lorenzo is testifying to Ambrosio’s moral purity by declaring that Ambrosio does not even notice the difference in males and females. Ambrosio’s devotion to God should have prevented all situations in which he put himself. Furthermore, because all logic reasoning would make others believe Ambrosio’s innocence, it proves that appearance can not determine someone’s character. While people could not see his true desires, God saw this his false cover. An innocent appearance does not mean an innocent heart. True nature takes development of relationships to completely judge. That being said, the theme of religious hypocrisy and corruption is present. Because the story takes place in a monastery, the hypocrisy and corruption are emphasized by the setting.The church seems magnificent, while hiding heinous offenses. This

Because of the sexual repression, females were forbidden from entering monasteries. This is the reasoning for Matilda dressing as Rosario. She then “transforms into the stereotypical temptress” (Brackett 1). This deception could have fooled anyone that she approached. After being cursed, the situation could not be turned around. The monk, Ambrosio, gives into his attraction so deeply through “sorcery, rape, incest, and murder” (Gonda 1). The Monk displays Lewis’s vivid descriptions of the acts when sharing Ambrosio raping Antonia “in a vault among the decomposing corpses of nuns” (Gonda 1). Therefore, no matter how holy someone may seem, they are human and may fall into temptation that results in punishment or