Homoerotic and Homophobic Possibilities in The Castle of Otranto Essay

Homoerotic and homophobic Possibilities in The Castle of OtrantoEve Sedgwick describes the Gothic novel as a dialectic between the homosexual and homophobic (92). Homosexual urge was first accept in the eighteenth century and resulted in far reaching complaisant responses. With the establish handst of the term homosexuality, social tensions appeared. These tensions found their way into novels as fears of sexuality and the struggle for sexual expression. Sedgwick terms this emerging homosexualism as the gothic unspeakable, which is reflected through the depiction of phallic class and male sexuality (95). Although homosexuality is not explicitly discussed in the text of Otranto, rough critics find the relationships and behaviours between the male characters to manifest Sedgwicks queer translation of the gothic novel.Research on Walpole has yet to turn up both concrete evidence that proves he had a preference for men. However, analysts of Walpoles garner have found that he had developed strong intimate relationships with men that can only be described as romantic, and therefore homoerotic in nature (Fincher 231). Historically, Walpole has also been accused of being effeminate. In a pamphlet written by William Guthrie, an attack is made on Walpoles ambiguous gender, of which Guthrie describes Walpole as delicate of the third sex and possessing a most ladylike manner (Fincher 233). There is always the possibility that Guthries pamphlet was only written out of anger. Never the less, it functions as a piece of evidence that suggests Walpoles sexuality, as well as provides an distinction of the attitude towards homosexuality at the time.If indeed Walpole had homoerotic tendencies, then his sexuality would give rise to rec... ... wins at the end of the novel, as Manfreds backup and property is stripped from him. Whether this indicates Walpole coming to peace with his own sexuality is debatable, and whiz can only speculate. Never the less, Sedgwicks queer re ading of the gothic novel provides another unique perspective towards Otranto.Works CitedFincher, Max. Guessing the organize Homosocial Sins in Horace Walpoles The Castle of Otranto. Gothic Studies 3 (2001) 229-45.Haggerty, George E. Literature and queerness in the Late Eighteenth Century Walpole, Beckford, and Lewis. Studies in the Novel 18 (1986) 341-352.Napier, Elizabeth R. The Failure of Gothic. Oxford Oxford UP, 1987.Sedgwick, Eve Kosofsky. Between Men English Literature and young-begetting(prenominal) Homosocial Desire. New York Columbia UP, 1985.Walpole, Horace. The Castle of Otranto. New York Oxford UP, 1996.