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Sexuality in The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis

Antonia becomes filled with anguish and confusion when Don Lorenzo no longer seems to return her feelings and does not understand what has changed in the relationship. This complete lack of regard to the opinions of Antonia perfectly displays how women who maintain a hyperbolic sense of virtue are treated as children who cannot think for themselves. Not only does Antonia's virtue and lack of sexuality cause her to lose any sense of autonomy, it also places her in an extremely vulnerable state. While in the Monastery Don Lorenzo describes Antonia as someone who, "suspects not others of deceit; and viewing the world through the medium of [her] won truth and innocence, [she] fancies all who surround [her] to deserve [her] confidence and esteem" (Lewis 17). Through this description it is clear that the isolation that Antonia has been raised in has made her oblivious to the true intentions of man and made her unaware that not all those around her are as virtuous and righteous as she is. Lorenzo's assessment of Antonia becomes frighteningly accurate when Antonia remains unaware of how Ambrosio lusts after her and this ignorance ultimately leads to her demise. After Ambrosio attacks Antonia, "she continue[s] to feel, that his friendship and society [are] requisite to her happiness" and remains ignorant of just how dangerous her situation is (239). Antonia's virtue prevents her from having the knowledge to properly protect herself and causes her to be one of the novels weakest characters. To become a stronger character and have control over personal control in this novel, a woman must come face to face with her sexuality and learn to use it to her advantage.
             Matthew Lewis uses the character of Agnes de Medina to show that once a woman begins to awaken her sexuality she is condemned by society but through this damnation she is given the footstep into the doorway of freedom and power.


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