The Canterville Ghost

Oscar Wilde's novella, The Canterville Ghost, is a humorous story and social satire about a modern American family that moves into an old English manor, Canterville Chase, which is haunted by the ghost of a dead nobleman, Sir Simon de Canterville. The story contrasts British tradition and American materialism and ends as a sentimental fairy tale centered on empathy and forgiveness.

Detailed Summary

• The Arrival of the Otises: The story begins with the American Minister to England, Mr. Horace B. Otis, and his family—his wife, Mrs. Lucretia Otis; eldest son Washington; daughter Virginia; and twin boys (often called "The Stars and Stripes").—purchasing Canterville Chase, an old English country house. The previous owner, Lord Canterville, warns them that the mansion is haunted by the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville, who murdered his wife and was then starved to death by her brothers. The practical Americans, however, dismiss the warnings and move in, with Mr. Otis declaring he will take "the furniture as well as the ghost at valuation".

• The Unfazed Family vs. The Ghost: Upon arrival, the family notices a persistent bloodstain by the fireplace. The housekeeper, Mrs. Umney, explains it is the blood of Lady Eleanore, murdered by her husband Sir Simon in 1575, and claims it cannot be removed. Washington immediately uses an American stain remover to clean it, to the horror of Mrs. Umney, but the stain reappears the next morning. Sir Simon, the ghost, employs various classic gothic tricks (clanking chains, gruesome costumes) to scare the new residents, as he has successfully done with previous occupants for 300 years. However, the pragmatic Otis family is entirely unimpressed. Instead of being frightened, they offer the ghost machine oil for his chains, throw pillows at him, and the twins consistently set up pranks and booby traps that terrify and humiliate Sir Simon.

• Sir Simon's Despair and Virginia's Empathy: Defeated and depressed, Sir Simon retreats to his secret chamber and gives up trying to scare the family. One day, the empathetic and observant Virginia finds him sulking by a window. He tells her his tragic story: he murdered his wife and, in turn, was starved to death by her brothers, his skeleton left chained to the wall in a secret room. He confesses that he is tired and lonely and longs for the peace of the "Garden of Death".
• Virginia and Redemption:The mood shifts when the sensitive and compassionate daughter, Virginia, stumbles upon the dejected ghost in the tapestry chamber. She initially scolds him for his misdeeds but takes pity on him when she sees how lonely and unhappy he is. Sir Simon explains that he is tired and has not slept in 300 years, longing for the peace of the "Garden of Death".
• The Prophecy and Resolution:  He reveals a prophecy inscribed on the library window:

"When a golden girl can win

Prayer from out the lips of sin,

When the barren almond bears,

And a little child gives away its tears,

Then shall all the house be still

And peace come to Canterville".

Virginia, the "golden girl," agrees to help him find peace by weeping for his sins and praying for his soul, as he has no tears left to cry or faith left to pray. She disappears with him through a secret passage behind the wainscoting for several hours to the supernatural realm to pray and weep for his soul.

• Peace and Jewels: Virginia eventually returns, and the barren almond tree outside miraculously blooms, a sign the curse is broken. She leads her family to the secret chamber where they find Sir Simon's skeletal remains. They give him a proper, dignified burial. As a token of his gratitude and affection, Sir Simon gifts Virginia a box filled with priceless jewels.

• Conclusion: The family becomes frantic over Virginia's disappearance, but she reappears hours later at midnight, holding a box of priceless jewels given to her by Sir Simon as a token of his gratitude. She leads her family to a secret chamber where they find Sir Simon's skeleton, still chained to the wall, exactly where he died.
• A proper Christian funeral is arranged for Sir Simon, attended by Lord Canterville, and the once-barren almond tree miraculously blooms with pink blossoms, signifying that Sir Simon's soul has finally found peace and forgiveness. Years later, Virginia marries the Duke of Cheshire (whom she had met earlier in the story). When asked about her experience with the ghost, she never reveals the details but reflects that Sir Simon taught her "what Life is, and what Death signifies, and why Love is stronger than both".

Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost features a clash between a modern American family and an Old World English ghost, exploring themes of cultural difference, empathy, and redemption through a narrative tone that blends satire, humor, and moments of sincerity. 

Characters

Sir Simon de Canterville: The ghost who has haunted Canterville Chase for 300 years after murdering his wife and being starved to death by her brothers. He takes pride in his "art" of terrifying people but becomes demoralized when his efforts fail to scare the Otis family. He ultimately seeks rest and forgiveness.

The Otis Family: A pragmatic, wealthy American family who buys Canterville Chase, embodying modern, practical American values that clash with British tradition.

Mr. Horace B. Otis: The American Minister (ambassador), a no-nonsense skeptic who offers the ghost lubricant for his chains.

Mrs. Lucretia R. Otis: His wife, a practical woman who views the recurring bloodstain as a nuisance to be removed with a commercial cleaning product.

Washington Otis: The eldest son, who is practical and uses a "Champion Stain Remover" to clean the bloodstain.

The Otis Twins (Stars and Stripes): Mischievous boys who torment Sir Simon with pranks, tripwires, and a fake ghost.

Virginia E. Otis: The fifteen-year-old daughter, who is compassionate, empathetic, and an artist. She is the only one who can help Sir Simon find peace.

The Duke of Cheshire: A young English nobleman and Virginia's love interest, who eventually marries her.

Mrs. Umney: The elderly, traditional housekeeper who faints at the sight of the bloodstain, representing the "Old World" belief in the supernatural. 

Themes

• The Clash Between "Old World" England and "New World" America: The central conflict is the humorous juxtaposition of ancient European tradition, superstition, and aristocracy against modern American practicality, consumerism, and republican simplicity.
• Forgiveness and Redemption: Virginia's compassion for Sir Simon allows him to atone for his past sins and find peace in the "Garden of Death," emphasizing the power of empathy and human connection to overcome a cycle of revenge and suffering.
• Appearance vs. Reality: The story parodies traditional Gothic horror elements, using dark settings and supernatural occurrences but subverting the expected reactions. The "frightening" ghost is tormented by the living, showing that appearances can be deceiving.
• Art and Aesthetics: Sir Simon views haunting as an art form, a dramatic performance, while the Otises treat it as a practical problem or a lack of artistic flair, reflecting a conflict between the pursuit of beauty for its own sake (Aestheticism) and a materialistic, utilitarian worldview. 

Message and Tone

• Message: The core message is that love, empathy, and forgiveness are stronger than death and tradition. The story advocates for understanding across cultures and generations, suggesting that modern practicality and ancient spirituality can be reconciled through compassion.
• Tone: The narrative tone is primarily comedic and satirical, employing irony to mock both the rigid social norms of Victorian England and the blunt materialism of American culture. However, in the interactions between Virginia and Sir Simon, the tone shifts to a more serious, sympathetic, and sentimental one, adding depth and a fairy-tale romance quality to the ending. 

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