The Castle of Otranto is a 1764 novel written by Horace Walpole.

The novel explores the

notion of lineage and leadership, which is emphasised from the opening of the novel. It
exposes the lengths one man would go to, to maintain his lineage.

On the day of his marriage to Princess Isabella, a mysterious helmet crushes Conrad - a
peasant is accused of being a witch. Manfred locks the peasant under the helmet, accusing
him of killing his son. To have powerful male heirs, Manfred wants to divorce Hippolita and
marry Isabella, Conrad's bride. Isabella flees with Theodore, a peasant, and escapes
through a trap door in the basement. Matilda hears a voice and asks about the woman who
fled. Father Jerome visits the castle and informs Manfred that Isabella has decided to leave
the Manfred family. Jerome questions Theodore and decides to execute him, but Father
Jerome realises Theodore is his son. A band of knights arrives at the castle to return Isabella
to her father, Frederic, and seize the castle of Otranto for Frederic. Father Jerome goes back
to the convent to find Isabella, but she has left again. He goes to the castle with other friars
to find her, and Theodore accidentally finds Isabella in a cave and vows to keep her safe.
Frederic and Matilda meet at the castle, and Manfred persuades Frederic to marry his
daughter Matilda. Frederic grants Manfred permission to marry Isabella as long as Hippolita
agrees to his divorce. Hippolita seeks guidance on divorce from Father Jerome, and Manfred
witnesses Father Jerome attempting to talk Hippolita out of it. Frederic advises Manfred not
to get married to Isabella, and a ghost advises him to let go of Matilda. When Matilda and
Theodore meet in a church, Manfred murders Matilda, marking the end of their relationship.
The castle collapses, and Theodore is the legitimate heir to the Castle of Otranto.