The Monk: A Discussion on the Novel

In ‘The Monk’, what is the depiction of the religious sects?

I could talk about this topic on and on because it's such an interesting dynamic. It's so ironic and hypocritical I nearly can't stand it. In ‘The Monk’, (and later in ‘The Italian’) the religious sects are the most culpable in their straying from God.

I am not religious in any way, and I'm sure that is evident, but it gives me an outsider and objective perspective of so called ‘criminal’ or ‘blasphemous’ behavior, and not only are the punishments inflicted worse than the original crime committed, but the punishments themselves are crimes.

In sticking to the faith, they are the ones to stray farthest from it: Ambrosio and the Abbess both are so sure of their own actions and beliefs that they fail to see how what they're doing is wrong and literally contrary to what they themselves are preaching.

Now, again I say, “I am not religious,” but um ... Forgiveness is somewhere in there within the Christian Faith ... I am sure of it. The lack of forgiveness by the heads of the religious sectors itself is more of an affront to Christianity than any crime done unto it (in my not Christian opinion); if God can forgive, then you can too, but never mind that! It’s not even their place to judge others, that’s God’s job, and to say “Oh, I’m the mouthpiece of God, so what I say is God’s word!” is poppycock.

The good news is, he gives you a full pardon as long as you don’t pull an Ambrosio. Yet another hypocritical thing is that fact that Ambrosio objectively did far worse than the nun that got pregnant (by the man she was supposed to have married in the first place) who then got locked away to rot with her baby’s corpse decaying on her chest, but Ambrosio (had he not been a pinhead) was being served a full pardon for committing every sin. In what world is that just?

I understand the clerics had to basically let him go scot-free or the reputation of their establishment would go down the proverbial drain, but like… yeah, no. Sorry. That’s so wrong and the point of God is that he transcends the human experience. If you do wrong, tough luck, pay your dues. The nun was honest, repented, apologized genuinely, wishing only for her child to be safe, and yet, at every turn is punished and gets no reprieve from reality.

The hierarchy of religion over the everyday lives of people is ludicrous to me. The behaviour of the Abbess and Ambrosio was disgusting, allowing innocents to die to save their own perceived reputation. They are so disconnected from reality that I don't trust them to know anything about the real world. It's easy to be holier than thou when you haven't had a hard life.

This whole thing would be much better if only people that have lived in the real world and have no more earthly ties are to join. Everything about religion having a vested interest in society through ‘fathers’ and ‘sisters’ who still have stakes in the social goings of society is a conflict of interest because they necessarily take advantage of the reputation of God, using him as a cover for nefarious behaviour. In addition, because they have to act a certain way for appearances, it makes a ‘double-life’ an ingrained part of their world. The self-denial then manifests as vindictiveness, suppressed rage, a monstrous ego, and no self-control: what a combo for “the Lord’s Chosen”.