Kevin Bowers, Lillian Calcaterra, Rebecca Dickinson, Rae Felts, Ryan MacInnis, & Debbie

Santos

Manfred: Manfred is the lord of the Castle of Otranto. He is the father

of Conrad and Matilda and the husband of Hippolita. he becomes

obsessed with the idea of ending his marriage for the  much younger

Isabella, who was supposed to marry his son. 

Hippolita: Hippolita is the wife of Manfred and the mother of Conrad

and Matilda.

Conrad: Son of Manfred and Hippolita.  In the first pages of the novel,

he is crushed by a giant helmet on his way to his wedding with

Isabella.

Matilda: Matilda is the daughter of Hippolita and Manfred. At the end

of the novel, she is accidentally stabbed by her father.

Isabella: Isabella is the daughter of Frederic and the fiancée of

Conrad  After the death of Matilda, Theodore settles for Isabella and

the two become the lord and lady of the castle.

Theodore:  Theodore appears to be a mere minor character, 

However, he emerges as a main character after Manfred orders him to

be imprisoned. He is revealed later in the novel to be lost son of Friar

Jerome. He also later goes on to rule the Castle of Otranto.

Friar Jerome: He is the Friar at the monastery near the Castle of

Otranto.  It is later discovered that he is Theodore’s father.

Bianca: Bianca is the servant of Matilda 

The scene where Conrad dies is extremely important. His first words that he utters are “take care of Lady Isabella” (Walpole 29). Here rather than inquiring about his son’s status or even grieving, he turns to his family and instructs them to take care of Isabella. Here, is where we see his love for Isabella start to flourish as he neglects his family.

These two scenes really show who Manfred is as a character as he neglected his children and epitomizes a sadistic, narcissistic villain. His lack of love for his children is evident in these two scenes as his selfishness and neglect for their wellbeing really hones in on his character.

Right before Theodore tells his story, and Jerome is realized as his “wretched father” Manfred recognizes him as Alfonso. He even admits, “he has unhinged the soul of Manfred” (80)

Theodore starts his story: “My story is very brief. I was carried, at five years of age, to Algiers, with my mother, who had been taken by corsairs from the coast of Sicily. She died of grief in less than a twelvemonth.” The tears gushed from Jerome’s eyes, on whose countenance a thousand anxious passions stood expressed. “Before she died,” Theodore continued, “she bound a writing about my arm under my garments, which told me I was the son of the Count Falconara.”-“It is most true,” said Jerome; “I am that wretched father.” (81)

This scene is one of great importance because we can now see that Manfred is not the heir to the castle and neither are his children, whether a son or daughter. It causes the story another twist, and gives us the truth we are looking for.

“The Marquis was not surprised at the silence that reigned in the Princess’s apartment…Quitting the Princess thus abruptly, he hastened to his own apartment inwards” (99).

Although we only know Fredric as Isabella’s father and the king of another city, his want to marry Matilda is clearly not going over well. This scene shows us the importance of the supernatural in this story, and gives us a sense of how much they took into account any run ins with the spirits. Fredric has his heart set on marrying Matilda, but is tossed into a fit of emotions in the oratory as soon as the spirit makes his decree.

Frederic, the father of Isabella (also called “the marquis”) is visited by a spectre in chapter five (page 99).  This spectre is a skeleton wearing ragged clothing.  Frederic finds him in Hippolita’s apartment, kneeling in front of an altar.

When the spectre turns around Frederic falls down on his knees, in fear.  He says “Angels of grace, protect me!”  The spectre replies “Deserve their protection!”   The spectre is a “holy hermit” who has come to Frederic to tell him “To forget Matilda!” He also reminds Frederic of “the wood of Joppa” and the “buried sabre.”  

The death scene, in which Manfred mistakes Isabella for his own daughter is a crucial point in the novel. Theodore says “Manfred will never permit this union”-“No this shall prevent it!” cried the tyrant, drawing his dagger, and plunging it over her shoulder into the bosom of the person that spoke” (Walpole 101). This scene shows the monstrous acts by Manfred when he hears that Isabella and Theodore will wed. This confusion of identity relates to Manfred’s relationship with Matilda as he shows her no compassion or human recognition.

When Manfred and Hippolita sign themselves over to the Monastic life. In the very end of the book both know that they are not large and in charge anymore, so Manfred basically admits defeat and takes the easy way out by entering the Monastery. He was able to avoid any consequence by this decision, and giving the castle over to its rightful prince, Theodore. (106 in the last paragraph)

Walpole, Horace. The Castle of Otranto.

Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2004.

Print.