Suzanne Simonin, a young woman coerced into religious life against her will, struggles to maintain her autonomy and sanity within the confines of a corrupt convent system. Forced to take holy orders by her parents, Suzanne finds herself trapped in a world of institutional cruelty and psychological manipulation. The narrative, presented as an epistolary account, documents her desperate attempts to escape her circumstances and the various obstacles placed in her path by those who enforce the convent's rigid, often sadistic, hierarchy. As she moves between different religious houses, the story exposes the logical and physical constraints of a society that prioritizes institutional dogma over individual human rights.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the unsettling nature of Diderot's prose and his sharp critique of religious institutions. Discussion often centers on the balance between the novel's realistic portrayal of convent life and its broader function as a philosophical fable about oppression. Many observers note the effectiveness of the epistolary format in conveying the protagonist's sense of entrapment and growing desperation. The work is widely recognized for its ability to provoke debate regarding the intersection of personal freedom and societal expectation. Scholars often point to the inclusion of the author's prefatory material as a crucial element that shifts the reader's understanding of the narrative's intent.