Castle Of Otranto: Theory Of The Sublime

Rebecca O' Reilly 14154722
Professor Christina Morin
Gothic Literature EH4121
16th October 2014
Essay 3: Castle of Otranto: Theory of the Sublime
The theory of the sublime is something that has a strong emergence, adaption, revision and contestation in Horace Walpole's Castle of Otranto that is presented in a manner in regards to the actual elements that form the "gothic." As well as also linking it to the sublime through the exploration of sheer emotion and terror as well as the traditional force of light versus darkness that can only be likened to the sublime.
The sublime as highlighted in Burke's Philosophical Enquiry 'it is productive of the strongest emotion which the mind is capable of feeling' (Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry 36) manifests
There is a strong link between the terror and the sublime, and they are almost one. With the sublime, these are intense, heavy feelings that we extract some type of pleasure from a negative situation. The actual castle itself is a manifestation of this terror as it is a symbol of Manfred's tyranny and corruption. As Isabelle tries to escape, she is met with fear at her surroundings and basked in an 'awful silence' coupled with the castle described as a long labyrinth of darkness'. This paints a disturbing picture of the horrifying surroundings she has immersed herself in and adds an extra layer of fear for her safety. Manfred is in pursue of her for dark reasons and the sounds and sights encountered in her escapade hold the evidence that the castle is the symbol of Manfred's corruption. But this is the very essence of the sublime as despite this terror, we are drawn in and extract some level of pleasure from her peril, due to an excitement to know what happens next. The sublime is an intense feeling almost associated with an adrenaline rush. This emergence of the sublime through terror is an addictive and almost arousing method of portrayal because the reader is fixated on the suspense and mystery that goes hand in hand with the exotic feelings associated with the sublime. There is a wild thrill here that can only be credited to the sublime and Castle of Otranto
It is a very dramatic novel and emotions run high. As Burke states: ‘The passions which belong to self-preservation, turn on pain and danger; they are simply painful when their causes immediately affect us; they are delightful when we have an idea of pain and danger, without being actually in such circumstances; this delight I have not called pleasure, because it turns on pain, and because it is different enough from any idea of positive pleasure. Whatever excites this delight, I call sublime’ (Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry 47). In a nutshell, the sublime is not a pleasurable experience due to something positive. It is the result of something that has negative connotations, something wild, and bold and not within the conventional, it's something different altogether. It's a thrill and a derivative of pleasure that is acquired from no danger but leads a thirst for the excitement from such tension and excitement. It is almost a guilty pleasure. Characters are overwrought with emotion, Manfred the self-obsessed tyrant with sick impulsions and delusions of grandeur. Theodore the noble and unlikely hero, the saviour of Otranto, but also weighed down by the death of Matilda. Isabella terrorised and frightened by Manfred, also of these characters feel deep seated emotions to a backdrop of doom and gloom. The tension and horror is nerve wracking to watch, but we also want too. The sublime is presented here in a manner that is it