Buffoonery in Walpole's The Castle of Otranto

Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto" contains so many instances of buffoonery and irony that the foolishness becomes the story line.

In the beginning, the reader obviously thinks the story would be about Conrad and the future lineage of the prince's family. In a small ironic twist, Conrad dies without even speaking in this story. The reader doesn't get to know him at all.

The prophecy, "That the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it" seems to further suggest the story will be about Conrad and his future sons (Walpole 17).

Based on Manfred's impatience for the upcoming wedding, he interpreted the prophecy to mean the castle and lordship would pass from the present family (with himself as the head of that family) whenever the real owner (again, Manfred) had grown too large (a man with many heirs) to accompany it (because Conrad- his favorite child- would need the castle and lordship to rule his own family).

Belief in such a prophecy is foolishness. Very early in the story, Manfred appears to be a man with a one-track mind, and ironically, his focus seems to be how Conrad can serve him rather than Conrad's best interest.

Manfred continues to baffle the reader with his ridiculous notions when he returns to the hall after Conrad's accident. Ignoring Hippolita and Matilda, Manfred instructs his servants to "Take care of the lady Isabella" (19). Perhaps this is an attempt to foreshadow the "indecent proposal" he makes to Isabella.

When Isabella refuses his advances, Manfred's voice almost leaps from the pages as he madly shouts, "Hippolita is no longer my wife; I divorce her from this hour. Too long has she cursed me by her unfruitfulness"(25). Does this even qualify as buffoonery? Sure it is foolish, but it borders on insanity that is a little too melodramatic to be a comic relief.

This man just lost his son; he refuses to acknowledge or see his wife and daughter; he asks his dead son's girlfriend to bear his future heirs as he tells her "Conrad was not worthy of your beauty"(24). Finally, he obnoxiously proclaims he is divorcing his wife. This extreme level of utter foolishness leaves the reader more annoyed than amused.

Another instance of buffoonery is shown when Hippolita, Matilda and Isabella are in Matilda's bed chamber. Hippolita reveals the passing of the sceptre from Manfred to Frederic. When Isabella calls Manfred an "impious man," Hippolita reprimands Isabella as she can not "mention Manfred with disrespect: he is my lord and my husband" (90). Hippolita defends Manfred unconditionally. She is completely unaware of what has upset Isabella, yet she shows her husband complete respect- even when not in his presence. Isabella's emotions eventually take over, and she divulges Manfred's plan to divorce her. The surface-level buffoonery is more ironic than comical-- Hippolita defending Manfred-- but the underlying foolishness is Isabella loosing her composure. Overcome with intense emotions, she reveals the truth about Manfred to Hippolita. The characters display tendencies of human nature.