The Canterville Ghost

The Canterville Ghost
By Oscar Wilde
Plot
Horace B. Otis, a wealthy American, purchases Canterville Chase, an ancient

English manor-house, despite warnings that the house is known to be haunted.
He moves into the house accompanied by his wife, his eldest son Washington,
his daughter Virginia, and his two younger twin sons. Immediately upon arrival,
the family is confronted by a bloodstain in a sitting room. The housekeeper,
Mrs. Umney, explains that the stain has been there since 1575 and is the result
of Lady Eleanore de Canterville having been brutally murdered by her husband,
Sir Simon de Canterville.
The Otis family takes a pragmatic perspective and scrubs the stain away; they
repeat the process when the stain continues to reappear every morning. The
stubborn reappearance of the stain, as well as other strange occurrences
around the house, leads them to consider that the rumor of the ghost may not
be totally unfounded. These ideas are confirmed when one night, the sound of
clanking chains wakes Mr Otis from his sleep. He gets out of bed and confronts
a terrifying ghost, but responds only by recommending that the ghost oil his
chains so that he does not cause so much noise when he is walking around at
night.
Mr. Otis is not the only family member who is not afraid of the ghost: the young
twins enjoy tormenting the ghost with pranks. The ghost is very proud of his
tradition of terrifying visitors for hundreds of years, and he is determined to
strike fear into the American family. However, the more and more terrifying he
tries to be, the more they either make fun of or ignore him. Things hit rock
bottom for the Canterville Ghost when the twins actually create a fake ghost of
their own to scare the real ghost. He accepts that he has lost his status and
power, and he begins to become depressed and pine away.
Meanwhile, Virginia's beauty has attracted the attention of the young Duke of
Cheshire, who comes to stay at Canterville Chase. While he is visiting, Virginia
unexpectedly comes across the secret hiding lair of the ghost. The ghost
explains his sadness and suffering, telling her that he longs for the peaceful
experience of death. He also tells her that because of her purity and innocence,
she can help him to achieve this peace. Even though she is frightened, Virginia
agrees to help; the two of them pass through a secret opening in the wall and
vanish.
When Virginia cannot be found, her family and the Duke become very upset. A
few hours later, Virginia appears in the dark at the top of the stairs. Her only
explanation of her disappearance is that she has assisted in finally bringing
eternal rest to the Canterville Ghost. As a token of his thanks and affection, Sir
Simon has given her a box filled with jewels. Virginia leads the family into a
secret chamber, where they are greeted by the sight of his skeletal remains.
Four days later, Sir Simon’s body is finally laid to rest with a proper burial.
Virginia subsequently marries the Duke of Cheshire. Although she never tells
anyone what she experienced when she vanished with the Ghost, she always
reflects affectionately on him and his memory.
Characters.
Mr. Otis: Mr. Otis: Mr. Otis is a robust and well-dressed American gentleman
with a practical and business-like demeanour (comportamiento). He is often
seen wearing a frock coat and carries himself with confidence. Personally, Mr.
Otis is a sensible man who prides himself on being a man of modern ideas. He
doesn’t believe in the ideas of ghosts and supernatural occurrences. He is a
devoted husband and father, always looking out for the well-being of his family.
Mrs. Otis (Lucretia): Mrs. Otis is a middle age woman, very handsome with fine
eyes, and a superb profile. She has a strong presence and carries herself with
poise. Personally, Mrs. Otis is a caring and loving mother. She is concerned
about her family's well-being. While she is more open to the possibility of
supernatural phenomena than her husband; she remains practical and level-
headed.
The Twins (often referred to as "The Star and Stripes"): The twins are young
boys who are identical in appearance, making them difficult to tell apart. They
are described as lively and mischievous, with a constant sense of playfulness.
Personally, the twins are full of energy and love to play pranks on others,
including the ghost. They bring a sense of youthful innocence and humour to
the story, adding to the comedic elements of the plot.
Sir Simon de Canterville (The Ghost): Sir Simon is a tall, gaunt figure with a
hollow face and sunken eyes. He is often depicted wearing ancient and tattered
garments, including a suit of armour that rattles as he moves. His long,
dishevelled hair gives him a wild and ghostly appearance. Personally, he takes
pride in his terrifying reputation and enjoys playing spooky tricks on others.
However, he turns vulnerable when he interacts with Virginia. Her kindness and
empathy touch his tormented soul, and he begins to question the purpose of his
haunting.
Virginia: Was a lovely girl of fifteen, with large blue eyes. She was a good
sportswoman and loved to ride horses. Virginia was the only one that didn’t
seem to share her brother’s jokes to the ghost. Also she is kind and welling
heart.
Washington: Is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Otis. He was a fair-haired and
good-looking young man. He was famouswss as an excellent dancer. He was
very sensible.
Mrs. Umney: is the housekeeper of Canterville Chase. She is an old woman

dressed in black. She greeted the Otis family when they arrived.
Setting
"The Canterville Ghost" is set in the English countryside in the late nineteenth
century. The story takes place in an old English country house called Canterville
Chase, which is described in Gothic terms.
Atmosphere:
The atmosphere of the novella is characterized by:
Comedy and Satire: Wilde infuses the story with humor and satire, particularly
in his portrayal of the clash between the pragmatic, no-nonsense Otis family
and the traditional, ghostly Sir Simon de Canterville. The interactions between
the characters are often humorous, as the Otis family remains unfazed by Sir
Simon's attempts at haunting and responds with practical solutions rather than
fear.
Supernatural Elements: Despite the comedic tone, the novella retains elements
of the supernatural, as evidenced by the presence of Sir Simon de Canterville,
the ghost haunting Canterville Chase. The ghostly occurrences and eerie
atmosphere contribute to the traditional tropes of a ghost story, but they are
presented in a light and humorous manner.
Contrast and Irony: The novella also employs contrast and irony to create its
atmosphere. The contrast between the ancient, haunted Canterville Chase and
the modern, pragmatic Otis family underscores the clash of cultures and values.
Additionally, the irony of a ghost unable to frighten the residents of the house he
haunts adds to the comedic atmosphere.
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The Canterville Ghost

Horace B. Otis, a wealthy American, purchases Canterville Chase, an ancient

Mrs. Umney: is the housekeeper of Canterville Chase. She is an old woman

The atmosphere of the novella is characterized by:

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