Book Review: The Vindictive Monk or the Fatal Ring by Crookenden

Gothic literature often features a plot revealing a character's imprisonment. While many bonds in literature are literal, a thorough reading illuminates the prison that truly confines a character-- the mind. Such an example of gothic literature's traditional imprisonment theme can be found in Crookenden's "The Vindictive Monk or The Fatal Ring."

Like many authors, Crookenden uses the literal symbols to display the emotional binds felt by imprisoned characters. For example, the young Calini is captured and "lead... through a long intricate passage; at the end of which they unbolted a heavy iron door and entered a gloomy stone dungeon...the inhuman monsters chained him to the wall, and, without speaking another word, left the dungeon" (52). Calini is not the only character imprisoned in a literal sense. His love, Alexa is also captured and held hostage by "the unbridled lust of a lewd barbarian" (57). Using descriptive language, the author paints a gloomy picture for the young lovers. However, by examining literal images, the reader can predict unseen images, such as feelings.

Although Calini and Alexa are literally imprisoned, by revealing the reasons for the lovers' imprisonment, the author also reveals much about the mindset of the man who inflicted the confinement. Sceloni realizes he is Calini's real father when he sees the engraved ring. After releasing his son "from these ignominious chains," Sceloni reveals the details of how Calini came to live with his foster father (56). Admitting the "demon of jealousy" affected him, Sceloni confesses, "I murdered my wife, and committed you to the waves" (56). In the past, Sceloni's was imprisoned by anger, rage and jealousy. The emotions prevented him from being free to love his wife and son. After his crimes, he learned the truth, and his prison transformed to fear as he "was afraid to stay" and moved to Naples to live as a monk (56). Sceloni remains captive to fear as he "preserved an obstinate silence" instead of telling his son where Alexa was taken (57, 58). Afraid "the finger of suspicion" would be pointed at him for murder, Sceloni continues to watch his son struggle with "tortures of suspense" as well as "indescribable anxiety" (57, 58). Further, Sceloni is also witnessing his son's emotional bonds--torture and anxiety-- tighten. Sceloni's decision to remain silent displays his emotional state of fear. He is neither free to help Calini locate Alexa nor relieve Calini's mind.

When Calini finally finds Alexa, Sceloni has "the satisfaction of seeing them happy," but returns to the monastery. Sceloni is still a prisoner of his mind. His punishment has transformed to guilt. Passing "his life in the most rigorous penance," Sceloni is imprisoned, remembering his actions; thus, not free to enjoy his son's future (59).