Denis Diderot - The Nun

In 1758 Diderot's friend the Marquis de Croismare became interested in the cause célèbre of a nun who was appealing to be allowed to leave a Paris convent. Less than a year later, in an affectionate attempt to trick his friend, Diderot created this masterpiece - a fictitious set of desperate and pleading letters to the Marquis from a teenage girl forced into the nunnery because she is illegitimate. In these letters, the impressionable and innocent Suzanne Simonin describes the cruelty and abuse she has suffered in an institution poisoned by vicious gossip, intrigues, persecutions and deviance. Considered too subversive during Diderot's lifetime, The Nun first appeared in print in 1796 following the Revolution. Part gripping novel, part licentious portrayal of sexual fervour and part damning attack on oppressive religious institutions, it remains one of the most utterly original works of the many eighteenth-century.

Comment: A few years ago I bought an used copy of this book at a little book fair happening at my local library. They were selling some older editions of many books in order to, hopefully, get more new books although most books were being sold at a very symbolic price. Anyway, since I had heard of this book before, it caught my eye and I got it but of course it has been waiting a lot too.

This is a classic by Diderot, an author from the 19th century and to write this story he got his inspiration on a real life situation of a woman who had been sent to a convent by her family but she wasn't religious enough to want that.

In this book we have a possible vision of the types of situations created for those who were not following the expectations and the customs of those times of a life in a convent and especially if someone had a different way of thinking of what it meant to behave in a morally correct manner.

For many readers, this story, more than a portrait of the miserable life of a woman who is sent to a convent against her will, is the metaphor of those who profess a belief or a faith, whether religious or of another kind, and go on in life without being honest to themselves and to others just to gain the benefits, leading to corruption and stagnation.

History tells us that in the past those people, especially from good families, rich and poor, when in need they were forced to follow the monastic life for lack of other dignified options. Convents were also used as a way to hide a woman or to pay a debt and several other situations, which led to many young women, without nay religious inclination whatsoever, being locked for the rest of their lives.

Had I the time and the knowledge I'm certain there would be a lot more detail regarding this subject but I'll let you be willing enough to search for more information about this. 

Concerning this book, the protagonist Susan is sent to the convent for another reason, her parents gave money to her older sisters, there wasn't any left for her and besides, we are told Susan's mother also wants to pay for what she perceived as a sin of her past by allowing Susan to be a nun against her will.

Susan's experiences are gruesome to read about but the level of distaste isn't as gritty as it would probably be in a contemporary novel because of course the writing style is very formal and according to the author's times.

Susan has three main experiences living in a convent. When she goes into one initially, the mother superior is a kind one, even when it comes to understand Susan wants to be honest and speaks about her lack of devotion for a religious life (but not lack of faith, which is something different). However, things change, the mother superior dies and  new one is appointed. This new person is completely different in disposition and behavior and Susan suffers years on her hands and of those who follow that nun's POV. Susan tries to appeal to a civil court but it was very difficult to be heard and that knowledge influenced the way she was treated after.

Eventually, Susan is transferred to another convent where she finds another kind of reality, where some nuns use their isolation for personal relationships and once again, the contemplative and religious life is not done in a way Susan considers proper.

I think this is my favorite aspect of the novel: Susan is not just a lazy or silly young woman who doesn't want to be a nun because she wants something else. She wants to be truth to herself and she feels she isn't being a morally good person by being in a place she doesn't want and being something she feels no inclination for. She only wants to be able to have her own choices but everything surrounding her is working against her. Her tale certainly illustrates what happened to many, and some never had a voice for sure.

I liked this moral debate: should you give yourself to that task as best as you can even if you don't really want it or should you voice yours doubts and be honest as any religious person would have deemed correct?

The fact the end wasn't as decisive as I would have liked is a weakness, I'd say. Things end up still a little doubtful for Susan and I wish I could have seen her settled with whatever should have happened. Yes, one can infer any possible outcome but I feel things were left too much in the air.

Still, this was one of those classics I've read easily, it wasn't boring nor filled with countless descriptions of things that don't matter to the plot. As far as classics go, this was a good one for me.

Grade: 8/10