The Monk · Chapter
Chapter IX explained
Ambrosio, driven by lust for Antonia, agrees to exorcise the ghost in Jacintha's house to gain access to her.
What happens
Ambrosio, driven by lust for Antonia, agrees to exorcise the ghost in Jacintha's house to gain access to her. He administers a soporific potion given by Matilda, which will make Antonia appear dead, so he can later retrieve her from the convent vaults and possess her.
Themes in this chapter
Lust and Seduction
Ambrosio's desire for Antonia drives him to abandon his monastic vows and conspire to drug and abduct her.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
The potion creates a false appearance of death; Ambrosio maintains a facade of piety while plotting Antonia's ruin.
Superstition and the Supernatural
Jacintha's story of Elvira's ghost and Antonia's belief in the specter's prediction highlight the characters' superstitious fears.
Characters to notice
- Ambrosio
The monk who, despite his reputation, violates his rule of not leaving the abbey to pursue Antonia. He administers the sleeping potion to Antonia.
- Antonia
The young woman whom Ambrosio desires. She is recovering from illness, is superstitious about her mother's ghost, and is given the soporific draught by Ambrosio.
- Matilda
Ambrosio's confidante and co-conspirator. She provides the soporific juice and devises the plan to fake Antonia's death.
- Dame Jacintha
The landlady who reports seeing Elvira's ghost and begs Ambrosio to exorcise it. She is grateful for his promise to spend the night in the haunted chamber.
- Madonna Flora
Antonia's vigilant attendant who distrusts Ambrosio and tries to protect her mistress from his advances.
- Elvira
The deceased mother of Antonia, whose ghost is reported by Jacintha to have appeared, predicting Antonia's death.
Key passages
“There is a juice extracted from certain herbs, known but to few, which brings on the person who drinks it the exact image of death.”
Matilda describes a rare herbal potion that induces a deathlike state.
This sets up the plan to fake Antonia's death.
“Ambrosio seized the opportunity: he drew out the fatal phial, and let a few drops fall into the medicine.”
Ambrosio secretly adds the soporific drops to Antonia's medicine.
This is the critical moment of the plot's execution.
“She shall be yours, not for a single night, but forever.”
Matilda promises Ambrosio that Antonia will be his permanently.
Reveals Matilda's manipulative role and the scope of the scheme.