Only halfway finished with The Monk I still have so many questions, and half formed questions, that it is difficult to string together my thoughts. What I can say is that this book is insanely interesting.
The first reason is that Lewis writes in a way that all of the stories within the meta-narrative are parallel stories. At first each subplot seems detached, but as I read on I found that the subplots are very closely tied with the next. For instance the story of Agnes and Raymond , compared to the story of the Bleeding Nun, compared to Ambrosio and Matilda, compared to Antonia and Lorenzo all have overlapping and yet distinctly different features to them that, for me, it’s difficult to piece together what is going on and what will happen. But in spite of that difficulty I’m captivated with the stories and flipping the pages to find out how all will be resolved.
One of the chief reasons for my confusion is that so many characters are veiled. When first introduced they seem one way and then as the story progresses the “truth” comes out. Case in point is Rosario/Matilda. When first introduced Rosario seems like a dainty and virtuous, and perhaps tormented, young man. To my surprise, and Ambrosio’s, Rosario was actually a woman! I did not see that coming, nor did I see the seduction of Ambrosio happen so quickly after passing judgment on Agnes.
Speaking of Agnes, I was interested in how Lewis portrayed his female characters. Throughout the novel the women are the ones that are doing the action. For instance, Agnes curses Ambrosio, Matilda seduces Ambrosio, Marguerite kills Baptiste and helps free Raymond, Donna Rodolpha attempts to seduce Raymond then, after being spurned, she attempts to assassinate him. These women are not without lust or power. I react to this in two different ways, the first is that he has created a novel with strong female characters. Women that are in full control of themselves and their actions. My second reaction is in response to the first. Yes, these women are in control, so powerful that they (Matilda and Donna Rodolpha) attempt to bring about the “destruction” of the men they are around. The idea reminds me the Led Zeppelin song “Dazed and Confused” where Robert Plant sings
Soul of a woman was created below.You hurt and abuse tellin’ all of your lies.
Run around sweet baby, Lord how you hypnotize.
Sweet little baby, I don’t know where you’ve been.
Gonna love you baby, here I come again.
I’m hopeful that Lewis was intending to create women in a strong and equal status of men (but I can’t quite convince myself).
After reading the Castle of Otranto I was delightfully surprised at how truly creepy and disturbing The Monk was in comparison. No doubt that this is a Gothic novel! The past and present are clashing big time with the appearance of the Bleeding Nun. Not only is she a creepy spectre, but she is related to Raymond to whom she has attached herself. So intriguing! The family ties in this novel run deep and are the chief cause of prejudices and conflict.
A final thought on the first half of the novel is the element of the sublime within the novel. In aesthetics, the sublime is the quality of greatness or inconceivability which is in stark contrast with human’s smallness and finiteness; and in one’s smallness there is frustration and confusion with this greatness that one can only react to with awe. Throughout the novel I see the characters reacting to the sublime, and I as the reader also feel like the novel is a catalyst to the sublime. All in all I’m excited and anxious to see how the novel will end.
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