Throughout The Castle of Otranto, a certain underlying theme becomes evident. One cannot hep but notice the important role that women play throughout the entire book. Every major event that takes place in the novel involves, happens because of, or affects a woman in some way. While the reader may not notice this on an initial reading, the role women play becomes very evident. Upon recalling the strange happenings of the book, one can easily trace their causes and effects back to Hippolita, Isabella, Matilda or Bianca. Each of these events create momentum for the story to move onward. Everything relies on what just happened, and the women of the story propel these happenings, and thus send the plot into motion.
Isabella is the driving force behind almost every interesting action in The Castle of Otranto; she incites the actions of almost every character at least once throughout the book. One of these instances occurs when Isabella sneaks around underneath the castle, trying to escape from Manfred. As she makes her way to the trap door, she happens upon Theodore. Theodore helps her through the trap door, bit it slams behind her, leaving Theodore to be found by Manfred. Had she not been there, Manfred may have never discovered Theodore. If Manfred had not found him, the plot would be immensely affected in ways that are impossible to comprehend. Theodore would not have been connected to Isabella in any way; thus Manfred would have no reason to suspect him has her lover. Regardless of this speculation however, Isabella's character serves an important purpose by happening upon Theodore. If she never had shown up, Theodore would have no reason to repeatedly save her later in the book. Isabella brought Theodore into the book as a main character, and several of Walpole's plot twists wouldn't have been possible without him.
Isabella is not the only woman who affects the outcome of the book, however. Hippolita also plays a crucial role throughout in the novel. Hippolita acts as an enabler to Manfred. She basically forgoes all of her values and beliefs, solely for the purpose of keeping Manfred happy. If Hippolita were firmer in her beliefs and values, many events in the story would not have happened, or at least not as easily. One of the critical events that drives Manfred's frenzy becomes shows itself with the divorce of his wife. Had Hippolita not been so quick to agree with his wish, Manfred would have been preoccupied with that situation. As doubtful as it may be, Hippolita might have slowed him down, or at least turned more people against him, had she not given in to his wishes so readily.
Yet again, another woman's role becomes evident in the book. While considered a main character, Matilda does not seem to have too great of an impact throughout most of the story. Although she was the daughter that nobody cared about in the beginning, one cannot possibly ignore the role she plays at the end. By meeting Theodore underneath the castle, Matilda sets the stage for her own murder. If it were not for the death of Matilda, Manfred would not have ended up retiring to a convent with Hippolita; consequently, Theodore receives the rights to the castle. By falling in love with Theodore, Matilda seals the entire ending of the book.
Throughout the book, one can notice that characters who play seemingly smaller roles can still affect the outsome of the story so profoundly. Although Matilda provides a mediocre example of affecting the outcome, Bianca demonstrates it even better. Although Bianca seems to be even less of a main character than Matilda, her actions greatly affect the happenings of the book. If it were not for Bianca, it is unlikely that Matilda and Theodore would have ever met. If they had not met, Matilda would never have been stabbed. The reader is left to contemplate a never-ending list of possibilities and possible outcomes, enhancing the plot, and keeping the novel captivating. Not only would Matilda have never been stabbed, Theodore also would not be alive if it were not for Bianca. If she had not screamed at just the right moment, Theodore would have been executed, and once again, the book would have had to end completely differently.
Another dimension is added to the book through the constant wondering and working out of different possibilities. Not only do the women of the book help to fuel the storylines, they also make you think while you are reading. The women in the story are crucial to both the plot, and each other. The actions of each woman in the story not only affect the actions of the other characters, but also of the the other women. The four main women depend on each other immensely, and if even one were missing, the story would not be communicated as effectively. Throughout the plot, they play off of one another, and thus complicate storylines and sub-plots even further. The mental aspect makes for an entrancing story, and is only one aspect of many that make The Castle of Otranto a truly enjoyable read.
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Works Consulted
Cohenour, Gretchen. "A Man's Home is His Castle: Bloodlines and The Castle of Otranto." EAPSU Journal of Critical and Creative Work. 5. (2008): 73-87.
---. "Eighteenth Century Gothic Novels and Gendered Spaces: What's Left to Say?" Diss. University of Rhode Island, 2008. ProQuest LLC, 2008.
Drakakis, John and Dale Townshend. Gothic Shakespeares. New York: Routledge, 2008.
'The Castle of Otranto'. Salvador Dalí
Isabella is the driving force behind almost every interesting action in The Castle of Otranto; she incites the actions of almost every character at least once throughout the book. One of these instances occurs when Isabella sneaks around underneath the castle, trying to escape from Manfred. As she makes her way to the trap door, she happens upon Theodore. Theodore helps her through the trap door, bit it slams behind her, leaving Theodore to be found by Manfred. Had she not been there, Manfred may have never discovered Theodore. If Manfred had not found him, the plot would be immensely affected in ways that are impossible to comprehend. Theodore would not have been connected to Isabella in any way; thus Manfred would have no reason to suspect him has her lover. Regardless of this speculation however, Isabella's character serves an important purpose by happening upon Theodore. If she never had shown up, Theodore would have no reason to repeatedly save her later in the book. Isabella brought Theodore into the book as a main character, and several of Walpole's plot twists wouldn't have been possible without him.
Isabella is not the only woman who affects the outcome of the book, however. Hippolita also plays a crucial role throughout in the novel. Hippolita acts as an enabler to Manfred. She basically forgoes all of her values and beliefs, solely for the purpose of keeping Manfred happy. If Hippolita were firmer in her beliefs and values, many events in the story would not have happened, or at least not as easily. One of the critical events that drives Manfred's frenzy becomes shows itself with the divorce of his wife. Had Hippolita not been so quick to agree with his wish, Manfred would have been preoccupied with that situation. As doubtful as it may be, Hippolita might have slowed him down, or at least turned more people against him, had she not given in to his wishes so readily.
Yet again, another woman's role becomes evident in the book. While considered a main character, Matilda does not seem to have too great of an impact throughout most of the story. Although she was the daughter that nobody cared about in the beginning, one cannot possibly ignore the role she plays at the end. By meeting Theodore underneath the castle, Matilda sets the stage for her own murder. If it were not for the death of Matilda, Manfred would not have ended up retiring to a convent with Hippolita; consequently, Theodore receives the rights to the castle. By falling in love with Theodore, Matilda seals the entire ending of the book.
'The Gothic in Demento'. Josiah Harrist
Throughout the book, one can notice that characters who play seemingly smaller roles can still affect the outsome of the story so profoundly. Although Matilda provides a mediocre example of affecting the outcome, Bianca demonstrates it even better. Although Bianca seems to be even less of a main character than Matilda, her actions greatly affect the happenings of the book. If it were not for Bianca, it is unlikely that Matilda and Theodore would have ever met. If they had not met, Matilda would never have been stabbed. The reader is left to contemplate a never-ending list of possibilities and possible outcomes, enhancing the plot, and keeping the novel captivating. Not only would Matilda have never been stabbed, Theodore also would not be alive if it were not for Bianca. If she had not screamed at just the right moment, Theodore would have been executed, and once again, the book would have had to end completely differently.
Another dimension is added to the book through the constant wondering and working out of different possibilities. Not only do the women of the book help to fuel the storylines, they also make you think while you are reading. The women in the story are crucial to both the plot, and each other. The actions of each woman in the story not only affect the actions of the other characters, but also of the the other women. The four main women depend on each other immensely, and if even one were missing, the story would not be communicated as effectively. Throughout the plot, they play off of one another, and thus complicate storylines and sub-plots even further. The mental aspect makes for an entrancing story, and is only one aspect of many that make The Castle of Otranto a truly enjoyable read.
--------------------------
Works Consulted
Cohenour, Gretchen. "A Man's Home is His Castle: Bloodlines and The Castle of Otranto." EAPSU Journal of Critical and Creative Work. 5. (2008): 73-87.
---. "Eighteenth Century Gothic Novels and Gendered Spaces: What's Left to Say?" Diss. University of Rhode Island, 2008. ProQuest LLC, 2008.
Drakakis, John and Dale Townshend. Gothic Shakespeares. New York: Routledge, 2008.
