In the first chapter of The Castle of Otranto, Matilda is hesitating outside the door of her father's room when he flings it open and demands to know who is there ("as it was now twilight, concurring with the disorder of his mind, he did not distinguish the person"). Matilda, replies "My dearest father, it is I, your daughter," whereupon Manfred snarls "Begone! I do not want a daughter" and slams the door in her face.

This early incident really tells us everything we need to know about the relationship between Manfred and Matilda except, perhaps, that he will later regard it as expedient to his schemes to marry her off to Frederic. He never regards her as anything more than a pawn, however, and is a cold, unapproachable father who does not even recognize his daughter in the twilight. Matilda shows dutiful filial affection for her father but is clearly also terrified of him.