The Castle of Otranto · Character

Jerome

A friar whose counsel Manfred seeks and whose hidden knowledge of Theodore's origins makes him the story's uneasy keeper of buried truth.

supporting

Also known as Father Jerome, Friar Jerome

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in The Castle of Otranto, Jerome is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Jerome rebukes Manfred for his sinful designs, but later feigns compliance to protect Hippolita and Isabella.

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Father Jerome moves between the castle's corridors and the church's authority, a holy man whose advice the tyrannical Manfred both demands and resents. He carries a secret about Theodore's parentage that binds him to the young stranger's fate, and his conscience strains against the powerful lord he is obliged to serve. As Manfred's schemes escalate, Jerome becomes the moral counterweight whose withheld knowledge shapes the middle of the book.

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The fuller portrait of Jerome sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Jerome in i

Character Web

18 connections

A slice of how Jerome sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Friendship
Family
Other

Character groups

Main Characters and Ghosts
Protagonist

+13 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

Manfred’s psychological peak occurs as he confronts the impossibility of his situation, torn between resigning…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Manfred
rivalry · negative
Jerome, as a holy father and protector of Isabella, actively opposes Manfred's wicked… How this plays out →
Hippolita
friendship · positive
Isabella
friendship · positive
Theodore
family · positive
Manfred
rivalry · negative
Jerome, as a holy father and protector of Isabella, actively opposes Manfred's wicked… How this plays out →
Isabella
friendship · positive
Manfred
rivalry · negative
Jerome, as a holy father and protector of Isabella, actively opposes Manfred's wicked… How this plays out →
Hippolita
friendship · positive
Hippolita
friendship · positive
Theodore
family · positive
Theodore
family · positive
Isabella
friendship · positive

Manfred
Jerome, as a holy father and protector of Isabella, actively opposes Manfred's wicked schemes and confronts his tyranny.
Hippolita
Hippolita and Jerome are allies in faith and morality, working together to counter Manfred's evil and protect the innocent.
Isabella
Jerome acts as Isabella's spiritual guide and protector, hiding her from Manfred and aiding her flight.
Theodore
Jerome is revealed to be Theodore's father, having raised him secretly after the death of Theodore's mother.
Manfred
Jerome, as a holy father and protector of Isabella, actively opposes Manfred's wicked schemes and confronts his tyranny.
Isabella
Jerome acts as Isabella's spiritual guide and protector, hiding her from Manfred and aiding her flight.
Manfred
Jerome, as a holy father and protector of Isabella, actively opposes Manfred's wicked schemes and confronts his tyranny.
Hippolita
Hippolita and Jerome are allies in faith and morality, working together to counter Manfred's evil and protect the innocent.
Hippolita
Hippolita and Jerome are allies in faith and morality, working together to counter Manfred's evil and protect the innocent.
Theodore
Jerome is revealed to be Theodore's father, having raised him secretly after the death of Theodore's mother.
Theodore
Jerome is revealed to be Theodore's father, having raised him secretly after the death of Theodore's mother.
Isabella
Jerome acts as Isabella's spiritual guide and protector, hiding her from Manfred and aiding her flight.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Jerome in i

In the story

Jerome appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter II
Jerome rebukes Manfred for his sinful designs, but later feigns compliance to protect Hippolita and Isabella.
Chapter III
Jerome pleads for Theodore's life, is granted it, but then is ordered to retrieve Isabella; he is torn between his son's safety and his duty.
Chapter IV
Questions Theodore about his love for Matilda and warns him against it, citing divine judgment on Manfred's line.
Chapter V
Reveals Theodore's true lineage as Alfonso's heir and condemns Manfred's tyranny.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Jerome unlock in the free preview.

See Jerome in i

See Jerome in Chapter II