Magic in "The Castle of Otranto" and "The Monk"

The 18th century had created one of the most popular genres in Western Literature, which is referred to as Gothic Literature. The Gothic literature genre began with the publication of Horace Walpole's novel entitled, "The Castle of Otranto" in 1765 (Gothic Experience 2003). The term "Gothic" connotes the "medieval style" that Walpole uses in his novel (Guran 1999). Elements of Gothic literature that is evident in Walpole's novel includes the elements of terror or horror, fear, strong emotions, and the pursuit of the protagonist for or against evil. "The Castle of Otranto" is a novel that focuses around the life of Manfred, Prince of Otranto, and his obsession in prolonging his power in his kingdom through his sons. Manfred's eternal pursuit for power and dominance is evident in the conflict that happens between him and the people in his castle, wherein...
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