The Monk By M. G. LewisThe Monk: A Romance is a Gothic novel by Matthew
Gregory Lewis, published in 1796. A quickly written book from early in
Lewis's career (in one letter he claimed to have written it in ten
weeks, but other correspondence suggests that he had at least started
it, or something similar, a couple of years earlier), it was published
before he turned twenty. It is a prime example of the male Gothic that
specialises in the aspect of horror. Its convoluted and scandalous plot
has made it one of the most important Gothic novels of its time, often
imitated and adapted for the stage and the screen.Agnes is Don Lorenzo's
younger sister and Don Raymond's lover. Her mother fell ill while
pregnant with Agnes and vowed to send Agnes to the convent if she
delivered her safely. She is a virtuous young lady who intends to marry
Don Raymond but her parents want her to become a nun, so she decides to
run away with him. Their plans are foiled and, thinking Don Raymond has
abandoned her forever, she enters the convent.Ambrosio is an extremely
devout monk about 30 years old. He was found left at the Abbey doorstep
when he was too young to tell his tale. The monks consider him a present
from the Virgin Mary and they educate him at the monastery.Antonia is a
timid and innocent girl of 15. She was brought up in an old castle in
Murcia with only her mother Elvira and is therefore very sheltered. She
is the object of Don Lorenzo's attentions. The novel's evil characters
are considered to be better written than the virtuous ones, and
Antonia's character is so virtuous that some have found her "deadly
dull".Elvira is the mother of Antonia and Ambrosio. She married a young
nobleman in secret. His family does not approve of her and because of
this she and her husband escape to the Indies, leaving her 2-year-old
son behind. After 13 years, when Antonia is very young, her husband dies
and she returns to Murcia where she lives on an allowance given to her
by her father-in-law.Leonella is Elvira's sister and Antonia's spinster
aunt. She takes an immediate dislike to Ambrosio after hearing his
sermon. She believes Don Christoval's polite attentions are more
significant than they actually are and is hurt when he fails to call at
her house. She eventually marries a younger man and lives in Cordova.Don
Lorenzo de Medina is Agnes's older brother and friend of Don Raymond and
Don Christoval.
