TO what extent is the monk the protaganist in the “The monk”

TO what extent is the monk the protaganist in the “The monk”

The monk’s character is quite a showground of archetypes. Initially he is the moral champion of Spain, shrouded in mystery and a shining example of religious life. His downfall, that of releasing unrestrained and built up lust, transforms him into a figure of evil. The manner in which Lewis achieves this altercation allows the reader to sympathize with him, as after all, no man can be perfect – not even a monk.  Whether the monk is the protagonist of the story, is a difficult paradox to understand, due to the manner in which the material in the book is presented. Firstly, the monk, is the title of the book. Yet, his story does not wholly dominate the book, and his actions do not precipitate a large number of the events detailed. Quite a contradiction to the aforementioned quote.