A Sicilian Romance

Explore the representation of at least two female characters in the novel. In what ways do their characters represent the period in which A Sicilian Romance was written, and in what ways are similar ideas about women present or absent in current society?

Radcliffe writes of Cornelia, “[a]s she spoke she raised her eyes, which beamed with truth and meek assurance to heaven; and the fine devotional suffusion of her countenance seemed to characterize the beauty of an inspired saint” (106). To what extent does the author present purity as synonymous with truth and beauty, here and throughout the novel? What impact does this have on the development of the novel’s themes?

Discuss Radcliffe’s use of lyric poetry. How does it function as a method of characterization?

How do the marquis’s or the duke’s pursuit of power and ambition represent patriarchy as a destructive force?

The narrative quickly shifts back and forth between Julia’s escape and Ferdinand’s exploration of the south wing of the castle. What purpose is served by juxtaposing the two characters’ efforts?

Consider the way different characters share their background stories throughout the novel. How do these stories contribute to the Gothic premise that the past always returns to affect the present?

What is the role of Gothic architecture in setting the mood and tone of the novel? Compare and contrast this with other examples of Gothic literature.

What overall point does Radcliffe make about the tendency of human beings to give in contradictory impulses in A Sicilian Romance?