Allegory of the Giant Helmet: Body Politics and the Supernatural Ecology in The Castle of Otranto

Journal: Arts Studies and Criticism DOI: 10.32629/asc.v7i2.5131

Chunlin Chen

School of English Studies, Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an 710000, China

Abstract

This paper argues that the supernatural phenomena in Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, centering on the giant helmet, constitute a unique “supernatural ecology”. Rather than mere horror decoration, this ecology operates as an allegorical system deeply intertwined with 18th-century “body politics” regarding lineage and inheritance. The analysis demonstrates how elements like the helmet, animated portraits, and the collapsing castle externalize patriarchal anxieties over reproduction and contemporary biological debates into palpable spatial violence. Manfred’s tyranny and the castle’s architecture forge a “reproductive geography” that polices female bodies and legitimate succession. Ultimately, the supernatural backlash and architectural ruin allegorize the inevitable self-destruction of a patriarchal order obsessed with absolute bloodline control. This study offers a novel perspective on Gothic origins by synthesizing the history of science, body philosophy, and formal literary analysis.

Keywords

The Castle of Otranto; body politics; supernatural Ecology; lineage; reproductive anxiety; Allegory

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References

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