Embracing the Gothic: Examination of “The Castle of Otranto” by Horace Walpole

Introduction

Horace Walpole’s “The Castle of Otranto,” published in 1764, is referred to as the pioneer of Gothic fiction. Despite laying the foundation of a new literary genre, the novel summarized the ideal elements that define Gothic literature. It is a foundational text that explores the darker facets of human experience. The book recaps particular features of the genre through its haunting medieval settings, the integration of supernatural elements, and the use of archetypal characters.

Medieval Settings

First, one of the noticeable characteristics of “The Castle of Otranto” is its haunting medieval setting, which gives the novel an atmosphere that is both mysterious and oppressive. For instance, the story captures people lamenting over Manfred’s son’s death in an abnormal circumstance, where an enormous helmet crashes him (Walpole 12). This scene creates feelings of sadness and, at the same time, fear, which are the predominant spirits people have when they realize that they cannot escape the chain of history and family inbreeding, thus contributing to the mysterious atmosphere of the novel. Through the book’s setting, Walpole is effectively able to create a Gothic atmosphere where different supernatural phenomena exist in the everyday life of characters, thus easily scaring the readers and presenting the Gothic attitude toward the effect of the past on the present. Therefore, Walpole’s “The Castle of Otranto” led to the growth of the Gothic genre through the medieval setting as illustrated by the castle.

Supernatural Elements

Further, he integrates paranormal elements in his book, making it a Gothic novel. Supernatural events are unexplainable instances that defy the natural laws that rule the world, and they are among the most common features of a Gothic novel (Olivé 3). In the case of “The Castle of Otranto,” several dramatic and threatening incidents like the giant helmet from the sky that kills the protagonist’s son, the spectral visions, and the noises within the castle are employed by the author to make the mood creepy. Using these occurrences, Walpole highlights the themes of fate and retribution, ensuring that the narrative explores the boundaries between the known and the unknown, immersing readers in a world where the supernatural challenges rational understanding and amplifies the novel’s emotional and psychological impact. Hence, the abnormal events evoke a heightened emotional response from the reader, reinforcing the novel’s Gothic nature.

Character Archetypes

Finally, the characters of “The Castle of Otranto” depict the general Gothic stereotype, making the novel influential in the genre’s formation. According to Massé’s analysis, Gothic antagonists relate to social ideas and practices metaphorically and literally since they represent personal and social conflicts (Al-Hurmuzi and Alzouabi 128). The book affirms Massé’s study through characters, such as Manfred and Isabella. While Manfred appears as a self-willed villain whose goal is to gain power and rebel against destiny, Isabella is a weak and virtuous woman whose fate turns into a source of both compassion and a feeling of fear in the reader. Therefore, Gothic characters have symbolic and psychological significance, as portrayed by Isabela and Manfred.

Conclusion

“The Castle of Otranto” inspired the Gothic genre by its unforgettable antiquated settings, its use of mystic elements, and its archetypal figures. First, the death of Manfred’s son brings a powerful element of a haunting and medieval setting due to its supernatural elements and mourning. Secondly, there is the use of unnatural elements which create heightened emotions. Lastly, the characters in the novel portray typical features of other Gothic figures. As a result, the above three elements help to increase the significance of ‘The Castle of Otranto” in the Gothic literary canon.

Works Cited

Al-Hurmuzi, Abdullah, and Lina Alzouabi. “Reading Horace Walpole’s “The Castle of Otranto” From the Perspective of Freudian Psychoanalysis.” International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation, vol. 7, no. 3, Mar. 2024, pp. 126–132, doi:10.32996/ijllt.2024.7.3.15.

Olivé, Laia. “The Origins of the Fantastic in Horace Walpole’s Prefaces to “The Castle of Otranto.”” Atlantis: Journal of the Spanish Association of Anglo-American Studies, vol. 45, no. 1, June 2023, pp. 1–16, doi:10.28914/atlantis-2023-45.1.01.

Walpole, Horace. The Castle of Otranto (1764). The Floating Press, 2009.