WAEC Literature in English 2019 Theory — Question 10

Model answer

Points to develop: Power as a central theme in the novel; The treatment of women; The women's submission/reaction to tradition; The women's emphatic relationship with one another; Manfred's oppressive role. Power is a central theme in the novel The Castle of Otranto. The novel portrays a typical patriarchal society with a pathological crave for power and dominance. This is demonstrated by Manfred's efforts to get his sickly son Conrad married prematurely so as to continue the reign. The result is the untimely death of the boy. Even with this, Manfred wants another son that will keep his reign and power. The females in the novel are mainly Hippolita, Matilda, Isabella and Bianca and their attitudes in the play show that women are being marginalized and have no say. Prince Manfred treats his wife (Hippolita) callously. The first instance is the death of Conrad. Hippolita is not allowed the true information that surrounds this boy's death. Manfred goes ahead in pursuit of Isabella. He also invites the priest, Father Jerome to dissolve the marriage between him and Hippolita on the ground that the latter is his cousin. Manfred's treatment of his own daughter: his lack of concern for Matilda's wellbeing also, shows the bad treatment of women in the novel. Hippolita is too submissive. She is a loyal woman both to the patriarchal structure and to her husband. Matilda on the other hand is quietly rebellious and wants no affectionate duty to Manfred her father. She hates her father's attitude to, and treatment of, her mother. Isabella is helpless, but not incapable of expressing herself. She rejects Manfred's proposal to substitute himself for his dead son (Conrad). Bianca loyally accepts the patriarchal structure. She is happy with the way Manfred treats Hippolita and Matilda. As a result of male dominance and treatment of women in the novel, the female characters in the novel are sympathetic with one another. This is shown in the relationships between Hippolita, Matilda and Isabella. Their individual attitudes are defined by their common experience. They are collectively bound by the norms and traditions of the society, though their attitudes vary considerably from one person to the other. Manfred's greed for power, though oppressive, provokes little or no reaction from the women. Manfred decides to give Matilda in marriage to Frederick (Isabella's father) so that he might marry Isabella. This is precluded though, Hippolita reacts to this. The tragic end in the novel (death of Manfred's family) is a result of oppression of women and their silence towards patriarchal structure in the novel.