As prevalent as it is to read Rebecca Reed’s early 19th Century novel, “Six Months in a Convent,” was reading the front matter of the book. Not only did Reed load most of the history necessary in understanding the novel’s basis in the introduction, but she provides information about herself as well: stating on the title page, “Rebecca Theresa Reed: Who was under the influence of the Roman Catholics about two years, and an inmate of the Ursuline Convent.” Interestingly, Reed’s novel doesn’t follow a standard “chapter” pattern. Instead, the book is one continual “chapter” till the very end. Understanding the novel’s title page, introduction, and first section of the novel becomes paramount in understanding the novel as a whole given the stories length.
Throughout the introduction, Reed maps out an extensive historical account of Martin Luther’s attempt at Reformation and draws a comparison between the movement’s efforts and those of whom withdrew from the Ursuline Community Convent. Reed states the following in reference to those whom declared religious vows of poverty: “ Yet, they hold out public inducements and charge the highest prices for educating the daughters of wealthy parents of that class of Christians whom “all good Catholics” regard as heretics, who must inevitably be damned unless they are converted to the only true faith”(7 ). Although Reed’s introductory speech resembles a hint of sarcasm, and perhaps a bit of anger, she writes with much poise and composure, making her points valid and direct. Rebecca Reed also professes in her introduction, with avid discourse, the turmoil and conflicts between Protestant families and the objectives and motifs or Romanist “educators.” Later in the introduction, she explains and once again compares the experiences of Luther to those of her own after the publishing “Six Months in a Convent.” She states, “under these contradictory impressions, one portion of the community have been urging the immediate publication of the Narrative, while others have threatened its author, and those who should undertake its publication, with a worse excommunication and denunciation than was inflicted upon Luther for his temerity” (12).
After completing the introduction, Reed dives directly into the narrative, beginning first with the very day she was offered a seat in the Nunnery. She accounts the process and conflicts she was faced with in making her decision to join; and thus began her story. I found most interesting, how Reed never actually accounts the names of those she speaks about, instead, referring to them only as “Miss M.H.” or “Mr. H.J.K,” for example. It is for this reason that it seems as though, this narrative is really for those “heretics” in the public who lack any insider knowledge of the Roman Catholic church. It suspiciously seems, as though Reed is invoking somewhat of a warning or disclosure to, not only the aforementioned, but also to young women inspired to join nunneries without any real knowledge of history. “While writing this narrative, I often lament my little knowledge of history, for had I been more acquainted with it, I do not think I ever should have united myself to an institution of this nature” (52). By using only abbreviated names, Reed might have been attempting to either protect specific people within the convent, or perhaps even, to protect herself from real harm against those with power.
