Sophonisba Character Analysis

Ambrosios’s lust is temporarily satisfied in chapter six, however, shortly after he gets what he wants he curses Matilda for his own wrongdoing, “’Dangerous women!’ said he; ‘Into what an abyss of misery have you plunged me!’”(193). in this instance he fears his morality and reputation is at risk, but he tries to excuse himself by putting the blame on Matilda. The epigram in the chapter is Sophonisba, written by Nathenial Lee. Sophonsiba is about a women of the same name who kills herself in order to escape shame. No women kill themselves because of shame but Antonia dies for the same reasons Sophonisba. In addition, Sophonisba decided to kill herself because her husband says so. When realizing that her husband could not protect her, despite …show more content…
In addition, an ignorant, chaste, and naïve women is seen as a moral heroine in Gothic literature, however, once power is given to a women, or a women is in power, she is writ in such a way that hold negativity or she is seen as evil immoral being. This is extensively portrayed as Matilda turns out to be a demon in the end because the only way a women could be that powerful, in charge, or smart is if she was a demon. This can also be seen as how the Prioress, who holds a short of power of her own becomes a evil force and an example of an evil women. If the Prioress was written as a male, or was an ideal women who did wrong, excuses would have been made in her favor. This can be argued simply by the fact that although Ambrosio committed murder twice, and committed incest, the people of Madrid were still ready to forgive him as the guards came up signify his pardon in chapter twelve. Ambrosio not only got a fair trial, but his fate and person was taken in consideration long before action was taken on his crimes. Unfairly and inhuman however, the mob attacked the prioress without consideration or