Monday, October 4, 2010

Anne Radcliffe (1764-1823)

The Mysteries of Udolpho


Characters:

  • Emily St. Aubert
  • Montoni
  • Madame Cheron
  • Valancourt
  • Morano
  • Du Pont
  • Annette and Ludovico

Plot summary:
  • Emily St. Aubert is the only child of a landed rural family whose fortunes are in decline.
  • Emily shares a close bond with her father, and accompanies him on a journey through the Pyrenees. 
  • During the journey, she meets Valancourt, whom she falls in love with.
  • Emily's father dies from sickness and Emily is forced to live with her aunt, Madame Cheron, who shows little affection for her.
  • Her aunt marries Montoni, a dubious nobleman from Italy, who tries to force Emily to marry his friend Count Morano. 
  • Montoni brings Emily and her aunt to his remote castle of Udolpho after finding out that Morano is nearly ruined.
  • Morano searches for Emily and tries to carry her off secretly from Udolpho, but Emily refuses to join him because she still loves Valancourt.
  • Montoni discovers Montano's attempt and wounds him. 
  • He also threatens his wife with violence in order to sign over her properties in Toulouse, but she dies out without doing so. 
  • Emily manages to flee from Udolpho with the help of Du Pont, a prisoner at Udolpho, and the servants Annette and Ludovico. She is eventually reunited with Valancourt and inherits her aunt's property. 

The Italian

Characters:
  • Vincentio di Vivaldi
  • Ellena Rosalba
  • Schedoni, the monk

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