# Gender and Power in The Monk

> Theme guide for The Monk by M. G. Lewis.

Women in the novel are often objects of male desire and victims of violence, as seen with Antonia and Agnes, yet characters like Matilda and the prioress wield power through manipulation or authority, exposing the complex and often oppressive dynamics of gender in a patriarchal society.

## Where it surfaces

- [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se/chapters/v): Elvira's warnings about the prioress's authority highlight the power dynamics within the convent and over women's lives.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se/themes/gender_and_power
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_monk_se/themes