The Castle of Otranto was my first official Gothic Novel. It was very interesting to see the Gothic element in everything written in the story- in the architecture, in the suspense, in the romantic aspect rather than the realistic aspect. It was fun to follow along with the story not knowing what the characters would believe next. For example, when a giant helmet crushed Conrad, when huge limbs were sited, or when the statue of Alfonso started bleeding. I like the Gothic era because truly, anything can happen. What is reality in the novel could never happen in our daily lives- so it brings a sort of excitement, suspense, and adventure to the text while reading it.
It was also interesting to see how Walpole's life could be closely related to his fictional story. Through the text he was able to openly express a relationship with his father like the one that was portrayed by Matilda and Manfred. A sibling-parent relationship that is submissive but never really pleasing to the parent. We see this in the text when Matilda tries to comfort her father after Conrad dies,"My dearest father, it is I, your daughter. Manfred, stepping back hastily, cried, Begone! I do not want a daughter" (pg 19). And later when Manfred accidentally stabs Matilda, she is still asking for his forgiveness, "May heaven bless my father, and forgive him as I do! My Lord, my gracious sire, dost thou forgive thy child?" (pg 98)
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