The Castle of Otranto
Published: 1764
Author: Horace Walpole
Genres: 90/100, Classic, Fiction, Gothic, History, Horror, Literary, Literature, Occult, Supernatural
Check out the review of this book here:
Summary
The narrative of Manfred, the castle's lord, and his family are told in The Castle of Otranto. On the wedding day of his ailing son Conrad and Princess Isabella, the story begins. Conrad, however, is crushed to death by a massive helmet that descends on him from above just before the wedding.
This strange occurrence is all the more concerning in light of an old prophecy that "the castle and lordship of Otranto should depart from the present line after the true owner has grown too large to occupy it." Manfred, fearful that Conrad's death may spell the end of his dynasty, decides to marry Isabella himself while divorcing his present wife, Hippolita, whom he believes has failed to produce him a legitimate heir owing to Conrad's frail condition before his untimely death.
Isabella, however, flees to a chapel with the help of a peasant called Theodore while Manfred seeks to marry her. While speaking with the monk Jerome, who insured Isabella's safety at the church, Manfred orders Theodore's killing. Jerome detects a marking below Theodore's shoulder and recognizes Theodore as his own son as Theodore removes his shirt to be executed.
Jerome cries out for his son's life, but Manfred tells him that he must choose between the princess and his son's life. They are interrupted by the sound of a trumpet and the arrival of knights from another realm, who want to transfer Isabella and the castle to her father, Fredric because Fredric has a better claim to it (another reason Manfred wishes to wed Isabella). As a result, the knights and Manfred set off on a quest to find Isabella.
Theodore, who had been imprisoned by Manfred in a tower, is set free by Manfred's daughter, Matilda. He dashes to the basement chapel, where he discovers Isabella. To protect her from Manfred, he hides her in a cave and shuts it, but he ends up battling one of the strange knights. The knight, who reveals out to be Isabella's father, Frederic, is seriously injured by Theodore. They all head up to the palace to figure things out after that. Frederic and Manfred establish an agreement to marry one other's daughters when they fall in love with Matilda. After being warned by an apparition of a skeleton, Frederic withdraws.
Manfred brings a knife into the chapel where Matilda is meeting Theodore, fearing Isabella is having a tryst with Theodore. He stabs Isabella, mistaking her for his own daughter. As Matilda dies, Theodore is revealed to be the actual prince of Otranto, forcing Manfred to repent. The prophecy is realized, as a gigantic ghostly apparition arrives, shattering the castle walls.
Manfred abdicates the principality and, together with Hippolita, retires to religion. Theodore is made prince of the castle's ruins and married to Isabella, who is the only person who genuinely understands his grief.
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Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 95/100 Yes.
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