Castle of Otranto

1. Take a feminist point of view and blog your ideas about the role of women in the text's setting. What options do women have? Are these options reasonable considering the time period? What concerns do characters have for women's feelings? Speculate as to Walpole's views about women.

-Women either have the choice of pleasing their husband and do whatever it is to make them happy or respect their wishes and get a divorce. I believe these options that are present in the Castle of Otranto is reasonable for the time period. Look at Romeo and Juliet. Both of the wives did nothing but stay out of the husband's ways ( at times) and always stuck by them no matter what they did. I think that the readers feel for the women characters in this book like they would a child who could not stand up for themselves. I felt very sorry for the women in the book because they were just seen as objects of love and fancy, or as objects that needed to be gone. Walpole, in my opinion, wanted to give women the dainty and saintly characterism so as to pull the readers more towards the good people who tend to treat them as an equal person. -

2. How does the text promote chivalry and romance? By romance, I don't mean just love between two people, but heightened sensitivity to feelings and emotions.

-Chivalry and Romance is not very apparent to me in the novel until Theodore comes to rescue Isabella, and later on after that. At that moment, it seems like the whole book had a more positive feel to it, even though there were more incidents of fighting. I noticed that romance played a role in this book when the author went to great lengths to let the readers know how Isabella felt about Conrad. Then the passionate scene between Matilda and Theodore grabbed my attention because it again reminded me of romeo and Juliet. Here's the boy that the family does not like but the daughter cheerishes. The author also puts emotion into when two characters are talking, and into the thoughts of the characters.

3. Speculate as to what Walpole may be saying about patriarchy and monarchy. Do you think he supported unquestioned allegiance to King and country--unquestioned submission to authority (King or parent)? Do you think his personal views about his father played into the text? Do you think it is reasonable to see the text allegorical--that Walpole was actually making commentary about 18th century England?

-I don't think Walpole supported alliance unless the Prince and Marquis each got what they wanted. Manfred did not go out of the way to give someone else what they wanted, but only himself. Manfred did know when not to battle with the other, expecially when he knew the other was of higher status than him. Manfred was not a very good listener, always quick to interrupt, and wanted things done his way. I don't remember much of what Dr. Davis said about Walpole's father but if Walpole has the dominant male character as an angry and harsh prince, than who's to say that the male figure in his life was not good to him? I do believe that Walpole was making commentary about 18th century England because the way the characters were played out in the book did resemble how some people would act. Men were very dramatic, whether it was with anger or passion, while the women played the role of being the good and wholesome wife who would never do a thing to hurt the one she loved.

4. Do you see a moral theme in the tale?

- I am still struggling with that question but I do know that I will find out later on today. The only moral tale that I could think of after reading the book was that You should never indulge yourself in your fantasies for they will drive you to do things you will soon regret.

5. What do you make of the conclusion? What does the conclusion say about marriage and romantic relationships.

- Since none of the marriages played out in the book and Matilda was not to see Theodore ever again, I have no doubt in saying that the author does not believe in happily ever after. The only marriage in the book ended up in agreed divorce which makes me wonder if the author saw that marriages fail or that there is always something better out there that the male wants.

6. Do you see evidence of Shakespearean influence in the story? How so?

- I do I do I do. Not only through the text but through the story! Yes the characters roles have been switched up a bit but this story reminds me exactly of Romeo and Juliet. With the Friar who wants nothing but to bring peace, Theodore ( Romeo ) who has fallen madly in love with the daughter ( Juliet ) of the angry Prince ( Juliet's Father ). I know that might seem a little farfetched but that is just what comes to my mind when I read the story. Of course, at the end Matilda ( Juliet ) is killed due to the anger driven by her father to rid himself of Hippolithia ( sp? ). Juliet "kills" herself earlier on in the story but in the end, she ends up dead just because the father will not want anything mroe than to pass on the family name, but not with a rival.