Hippolita and Matilda are attributed as pseudo-angelic beings.

Yet to Manfred female virtues are secondary to their ability to produce male heirs or be used as pawns in state marriages.

I think Hippolita emerges as the truly tragic figure of TCoO.
Her only failure as the dominion slips away, was an inability to produce a healthy son. Matilda's death completes her woes.

Hippolita is a patroness of the church, she makes reverences at the statute of Alfonso. Apparently she felt uneasy in conscience and 'oft urged Manfred to resign the principality' (ch.4).
She is an ideal of womanhood.

If HW is mocking this ideal in THoO, he'd have to overlook a whole lot of things.
If Manfred had listened to Hippolita, Matilda may still be alive.
On Matilda's deathbed, Manfred seems so ashamed of his neglect and cruelty to her, it's too much for him to ask her forgiveness.

Perhaps HW gently mocks unrealistic excesses of the notion.
Saintly women, as shown by Hippolita may be wise.