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3.06 AVERAGE
3.06 AVERAGE
Goodness, there’s a lot of now-popular gothic tropes crammed in here.
The "first Gothic novel" certainly has a lot to offer! Despite the Romantic writing style, it is not boring and it has many strong and interesting characters. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the later Gothic works, such as Frankenstein or Dracula.
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Castle of Otranto is very much the Urtext of Gothic horror. A lot of classic Gothic topoi can be found in this novel from the 1760s. No more so than the character of Manfred, being very much the ideal doomed Gothic lord who is scorned by tragedy all but inflicted by himself, when at the tail end of the narrative he mistakingly murders Mathilde, his daughter and favourite child</spoilers>. While a lesser character than in stories that were inspired by Otranto, the castle itself also plays a role of note. It is the setting of many supernatural actions and visions brought down upon the characters - seemingly the result of an ancestral spirit. <spoilers>When at the end the Castle is struck down into ruins by said ancestral spirit as divine retribution for Manfred's tyrannical behaviour the influence this novel had on future Gothic authors becomes rather clear.
One thing I that did but me off where the rather blunt displays of the politics of the time in which Walpole wrote the novel, mainly that women should be subservient to their fathers or husbands, and that men can do no wrong if they show true regret afterwards.Or: MATHILDE WHY DO YOU KEEP DEFENDING YOUR ASSHOLE OF A FATHER WHEN HE HAS JUST MURDERED YOU
One thing I that did but me off where the rather blunt displays of the politics of the time in which Walpole wrote the novel, mainly that women should be subservient to their fathers or husbands, and that men can do no wrong if they show true regret afterwards.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the plot and character sure were…something. it read a lot like a shakespeare play in some parts. but i can appreciate this novel for what it is and what it inspired.
also i’m writing a term paper on this so i’m gonna have to spend a lot of time with these weird ass people in this odd book.
also i’m writing a term paper on this so i’m gonna have to spend a lot of time with these weird ass people in this odd book.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Reading this in modern times, it’s not a very compelling story. I only read it since it’s considered the first gothic novel. Idk, maybe those bitches we’re quaking in their boots but not i
challenging
slow-paced