The Castle of Otranto · Theme

Gender and Power

How The Castle of Otranto develops Gender and Power.

Female characters like Hippolita, Matilda, and Isabella are subjected to Manfred's patriarchal authority, yet they demonstrate resilience, piety, and agency through their resistance, escape, and moral strength.

Where it surfaces

Chapter II
Hippolita's submission and Isabella's flight illustrate the limited agency of women, while Manfred asserts patriarchal control over both.
Chapter IV
Hippolita's submission to Manfred's will and her advice that women must obey fathers and husbands highlight the powerlessness of women in patriarchal society.