# Leonella — The Monk character guide

> Leonella in The Monk by M. G. Lewis.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Donna Leonella, Elvira Leonella

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Snapshot

Antonia's garrulous aunt and chaperone in Madrid, whose vanity and matchmaking schemes make her a comic counterweight to her niece's guarded innocence.

## Who they are

Leonella moves through Madrid society as Antonia's guardian and self-appointed social manager, forever angling for advantageous introductions and fretting over her own faded charms. Her harmless self-absorption and love of gossip place her in stark contrast to the sheltered Antonia, whose modesty she half-envies and half-exploits. When predatory attention begins circling her niece, Leonella's complacency and hunger for status leave Antonia dangerously unguarded, quietly enabling the novel's central crisis.

## In the story

### [The Monk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se/chapters/the-monk)

Antonia's aunt, who accompanies her to the sermon and comments on Ambrosio's appearance.

### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se/chapters/i)

Antonia's aunt, who is skeptical of Ambrosio's severity and engages in flirtatious banter with Don Christoval.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se/chapters/v)

Disappointed that Don Christoval did not accompany Lorenzo; later writes a letter revealing their address.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se/characters/leonella
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se/characters