The Castle of Otranto

The Castle of Otranto, first published in 1764 by English author Horace Walpole (1717-1797), is considered the first supernatural work of Gothic fiction, influencing many well-known 19th century writers such as Clara Reeve, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

The five-chapter long novella revolves around the mysterious supernatural events at the titular castle, whose owner goes to villainous lengths to maintain control of it. Walpole introduces Gothic elements that drive the plot, such as mysterious deaths and long-hidden secrets, and themes that reflect 18th century anxieties, including the importance of family lineage, the power of patriarchal societies, and women in servitude to their husbands. Gothic motifs valorize medieval history and tradition.

The Castle of Otranto was published at a time when the role of fiction was debated: Should it mirror real life, or should it embrace the imagination? Walpole first published the novella with a claim that it was a translated work of medieval fiction from the 11th and 12th centuries. Once Walpole revealed that the work was his original writing, many readers dismissed the text as unrealistic, immoral, and absurd.

This study guide references the Kindle edition of Walpole’s novel.

Plot Summary

The Castle of Otranto exists under an ancient prophecy: "the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it" (6). Fear that this prophecy will come to pass motivates the bizarre and villainous Manfred, the Prince of Otranto, to cling to ownership of the castle at all costs.

Manfred’s son Conrad is mysteriously crushed to death by the helmet of a giant suit of armor on the day he was set to marry the beautiful Isabella, stoking Manfred’s fear of the curse. A peasant reveals that the helmet belongs to a statue of Alfonso the Good, which Manfred treats as a confession of guilt. He accuses the peasant of treason, then informs Isabella that he will marry her himself and divorce his wife Hippolita. Isabella flees Manfred and finds a secret passageway to the Church of St. Nicholas; she is led to safety by the peasant, who has escaped. Meanwhile, the leg of the suit of armor appears in the gallery of the castle.

Manfred’s daughter Matilda learns of these events and is afraid that he will marry her off against her wishes. Matilda’s mother has instructed her to worship Alfonso the Good, and she intends to enter the convent. Manfred attempts to reclaim Isabella from the church, but the priest, Father Jerome, refuses. It is revealed that Isabella may have romantic feelings for the peasant who rescued her, Theodore, who resembles Alfonso the Good. Manfred sentences Theodore to death. At the execution, Father Jerome sees a birthmark that confirms Theodore is his lost son; the execution is interrupted by the sound of trumpets.

A herald of Frederic, Isabella’s father, arrives and demands her return. Manfred throws a feast to reduce the tension and help convince Frederic that he should be allowed to marry Isabella. Meanwhile, Isabella has disappeared, and Frederic’s mean and Manfred search for her separately. Matilda releases Theodore from prison and falls in love with him. She sends him after Isabella, and he finds her ahead of Frederic’s men. A battle ensues, and one of the knights is wounded; he is revealed to be Frederic himself.

All return to Castle Ontranto and explain their stories. Frederic returned from the Crusades because he had a dream that Isabella was in danger because of an ancient prophecy. Theodore explains how he came to be kidnapped by pirates as a child and failed in searching for his father.

Hippolita suggests a marriage between Frederic and Matilda to preserve the castle’s lineage. When Isabella reveals Manfred’s intentions, Hippolita agrees to the divorce and seeks out Father Jerome to enter the convent. Manfred and Frederic engineer the two proposed weddings—Frederic and Matilda, Manfred and Isabella—but Frederic will go through with it only if Hippolita and the church approve.

Hippolita approves, but Manfred bribes a servant to spy on Isabella. She is stopped by a giant hand of armor. Frederic learns of this and calls of the weddings. Frederic meets a ghost who chastises him for prioritizing his own desires over his daughter’s safety.

Manfred believes Isabella and Theodore are planning a wedding in secret, so he sneaks up on Theodore and a woman and stabs her, only to realize he’s stabbed his own daughter Matilda. In grief, Manfred attempts suicide but is stopped by his servants.

Matilda’s death causes the earth to tremble, and Castle Ontranto begins to crumble. Alfonso the Good appears as a ghost and proclaims Theodore the rightful ruler. Father Jerome explains that Theodore’s mother was a rightful heir to the castle, and Manfred agrees to become a monk. Theodore marries Matilda and assumes his role as ruler.