WAEC Literature in English 2018 Theory — Question 7

Model answer

The death of Conrad is significant in the novel, as it triggers the central issue in the story: Prince Manfred's desire to keep the lordship of Otranto in his family. It is the death of Conrad that pushes him into the desperate and abominable resolve to divorce his wife Isabella and marry another heir. The circumstances that surround Conrad's death bring to confirmation the significance of the supernatural in the story. There are manifestations of apparitions, unusual movements, reports of ghosts and giants, frightening sounds and claps of thunder and so on. This circumstance of death promptly hints at the Gothic component of the novel. The circumstance of the death and the reactions to it introduce the tragic atmosphere which would later characterize the greater part of the narrative. The incident also makes Manfred's subjects and servants recall the ancient prophecy that sooner or later the castle and lordship of Otranto will pass from the present family. This arouses the curiosity of the reader to whether the prophecy will come to reality or not. This contributes to the suspense in the novel. Manfred's response to the death is used to hint at his desperation to keep the sceptre of Otranto in his family. Rather than feel sorry for the poor boy and show concern for his mutilated body, he is more interested in the safety of Isabella for selfish reasons. The young peasant's observation about the semblance between the helmet that killed Conrad and the one on Alfonso's statue further adds to the mystery around the death. The link between the two helmets would later be established in the story. With the death of Conrad comes the conflict that will dominate the activities in the novel. Despite Conrad's death, Manfred is hell bent to retain the sceptre of Otranto in his family. With the arrest of the young peasant (Theodore) and his detainment in the castle, the conflict between good and evil in the novel is established.