THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

OSCAR WILDE
1.

Discuss The Canterville Ghost as a ghost story.

Ghost stories belong to the genre of horror literature and give the purpose of scaring the
reader and situations that cause horror or fear. The main themes are death and evil and
ancient prophecies. Macbeths ghost and Dracula the Vampire are quite famous for the
terrifying effect on the reader.
The Canterville ghost is a ghost story with a difference. It has a ghost. Canterville chase has
all the accoutrements of a traditional haunted house. There are gothic elements, the
macabre, creaking floorboards, clanking chains, ancient prophecies etc. The ghost has to
haunt yet he gets terrorised in return. Canterville ghost presents a miserable bedraggled
picture instead of a scary one. When he laughs demonically, he is offered tincture, when he
drags his chains, he gets lubricator, his victims gain in strength and the ghost falls sick, has
cold and virtually becomes an invalid. The peal of thunder, the persistent bloodstain dont
work in his favour. The ghost is a stereotype. I must tattle my chains, groan through
keyholes, walk at night, he confesses but instead of a terror he becomes a caricature who is
beaten by the twins at all junctures.
The ghost has a gory past, murder of his wife, behind him, his skeleton lies awaiting release,
yet he has to tread on till Virginia offers a ray of hope. The ghost story is told, not from the
perspective of the castle occupants, as in traditional tales but from Sir Simons perspective.
So it is a ghost story with a difference.

2.

Discuss the use of supernatural elements in the story, The Canterville Ghost by giving
evidence from the text.
The Canterville Ghost has all a haunted house, a ghost, Gothic elements, murder,
vengeance, spooky atmosphere. There is liberal use of elements that defy the physical laws.
The ghost is the main protagonist, he haunts the corridors, there are clanking chains, he
vanishes through the wainscoting, he utters demonic laugh he has paralysed, drowned and
killed many victims. The blood-stain persistently reminds of a murder that has been
committed.
Moreover like the ill-portents of Shakespeares Julius Caesar the atmosphere turns ugly,
ominous as the Otis family reaches the haunted villa and a curious stillness seems to hold
the atmosphere. When Washington decides to clean the blood-stain, a fearful peal of
thunder starts and Mrs Umney falls a faint. The ghost has blood-shot eyes, he vanishes from
the fourth dimension of space, he becomes phosphorescent, makes a deep churchyard grin,
he can hiss, he can frighten with palsy-stricken fingers. Wilde humorously adds regarding the
ghost, his life has been a evil, he was the most conscientious in all things connected wjth
the supernatural.
So the ghost is duty bound to provide, the terror which does have an opposite effect though.
All the ghostly details culminate in the garden of Death, here the ghost rests forever.

3.

Who is the most important character in The Canterville Ghost ? Give reasons for your
answer.
The story The Canterville Ghost is told from the view point of the ghost, Sir Simon himself.
Sir Simon is, in fact, the focal point around which the theme, the plot and the content of the
story goes. The story is about Sir Simons efforts and his struggle to encounter and face the
challenges of coping with the adverse situations and getting liberated.
The ghost is the most colourful and interesting character who goes about his duties with
theatrical panache and flair. He assumes a series of dramatic roles in his failed attempts to
impress and scare the Otises. He has the ability to change forms and so he makes use of a
variety of tricks. He plays the roles of ghostly apparitions like a Headless Earl, a strangled
Babe, The blood Sucker of Bexley, Jones, the Graveless, Suicides Skeleton and the corpse
snatcher all succeeded in terrifying the earlier residents of the castle.
But none of these tricks works with the present American residents. Sir Simons schemes,
puts on gruesome costumes, tries all possible antics. But nothing scares his house guests.
Otises successfully foils every effort of the ghost. In fact he falls victim to trip wires,pea
shooters, butter slides and falling buckets of water. During the course of the story, we are
driven to observe and understand a wide range of the ghosts complex emotions. We find
him brave, frightening, distressed, scared and eventually depressed and weak. The ghost
touches all the other characters of the story both with his rise and fall./
He reveals his vulnerable side during t an encounter with Virginia. Mr Otis fifteen-year-old
daughter. While Virginia listens to him with compassion, he tends to share his desperation
and tragic story. His longing for ultimate peace and salvation is pathetic. The Ghost takes her
to the angel of death. She prays for him and goes with him to the Garden of Death and bids
him a final farewell.
Thus, the ghost is the central character of the story as it depicts his tragedy and his attempts
to overcome it. All other characters and situations are woven around the ghosts encounter
with his life.

4.

Virginia acts as the angel of mercy, who is instrumental in leading the devil in his final
abode of peace. Discuss.
OR
Virginia with her rare sensitivity is the only one who understands the ghost and helps him in
gaining salvation. Discuss.
In Canterville Ghost it is Virginia who acts as the angel of mercy and coveys Oscar Wildes
moral message of the importance of love and forgiveness. Virginia becomes the vehicle, the
touchstone, a young girl, who achieves the impossible task of transforming a murderer into
one desperate for salvation.

Unlike the rest of her family, Virginia does not ridicule, laugh, trick or trouble him. She is
sensitive enough to feel his misery, a friend to recognise his distress, a human being to reach
out to him. She listens to him, learns an important lesson, as well as the true meaning
behind the riddle. She agrees to wee[ for him as he has no tears, pray as he has no faith and
accompanies him to the angel of death and beg for mercy for him. She risks her life, goes
with to the garden of Death.
5

.The Canterville Ghost is a study in contrasts as far as the characterisation goes. Bring out
the truth of the above statement with reference to the text.
It is undeniable that, the characters that are presented are totally in contrast to each other.
Oscar Wilde chooses an American family, places them in a British setting, then through a
series of mishaps, pits one culture against the other. He creates stereotypical characters that
represent both England and the United States, presents them ass comical characters ,
satirising both the unrefined tastes of Americans and the determination of the British to
guard their traditions. Mrs. Otis does not pretend to have chronic ill-health to show a
form of European refinement. Washington is qualified for American diplomacy yet he
gambles at the casino. Mrs. Otis, concern is characterised as gross materialism the family
talked about the sweetness of New York accent as compared to the London drawl.
The Otis family except Virginia is a sceptic, they are undaunted by ghosts and blood stains.
The Cantervilles stay away from the haunted castle and feel duty-bound, guard their
punctilious honour to report regarding the haunted house. Except Virginia, the entire Otis
family is too confident and undeterred by the ghost. Their behaviour reduces the ghost to
tears, makes him a virtual invalid. Sir Simon misunderstands the Otises just as they
misunderstand him and by pitting them against each other, Wilde clearly emphasis the
culture clash between England and the United States. The miserable condition of the ghost
does not emotionally touch or frighten the Otises; instead they irritate, dominate and
humiliate the ghost . So the characters have a contrasting qualities that set them apart from
each other.

6.

Discuss the use of wit and humour which is found in abundance in the story.
Humour is the most powerful weapon used by Wilde to defuse the tension and scary
atmosphere that would have resulted in such a ghost story. Phantoms, apparitions, blood
stains, haunting of the ghost in the corridors all are treated with humour. The persistent
blood-stain is wiped with Pinkertons stain remover, Mrs Umneys fainting fits are to be
charged like breakages, the ghost appears in a miserable state that shocks no one. Mr. Otis
scolds the ghost and offers him Lubricator to oil his chains, when the ghost laughs
demonically; Mrs Otis accuses him of indigestion and offers him tincture. The ghost feels
duty bound and says, I must rattle my chains, groan through keyholes, walk about at night.
Oscar Wilde treats even murder non-seriously. Sir Simon murdered his wife because she was
a not a good cook, nor could do repair work. Mrs. Otis does not pretend to be sick as part of
European refinement, she is handsome. The ghost becomes frustrated because the Otises
are incapable of appreciating the symbolic value of apparitions, blood stains, development
of astral bodies and do not give any importance to his solemn duty to haunt the castle. All

the tricks played by the twins are funny, the best being, having to encounter another ghost,
which frightens the Canterville ghost. Bombastic words are used for sheer pleasure like
enterprising impresario, sanguineous stains, the existence of phantasmata etc. So the
story is full of humour, not only in the character of the cast, but also for the language and
the unexpected reaction of the Otis family, that proves to be a reversal of a traditional
horror story.
7.

What is the dramatic significance of the blood stain that proves persistent ?
When the story begins Lord Canterville warns Mr. Otis that the presence of a ghost has
made Canterville Chase uninhabitable. Mr. Otis, however remains a sceptic. When the Otis
family enters, the blood stain is the first important piece of physical evidence to prove that a
murder has been committed and the mansion is haunted. Any attempt to wipe it away leads
to a threatening and strange peal of thunder and the fainting of Mrs. Umney. Yet the Otis
family sticks to their belief that there is no ghost. The appearance and reappearance of the
blood stain is the first chink in the armour and the Otis family cannot deny the presence of
the ghost.
So the blood stain is significant to set Mr. Hiram Otis and Mr Hiram Otis and Mrs Otis
thinking about the ghost. They had humorous dismissed any talk of ghost. Now they cannot
So the stage was already set for the appearance of the ghost. The ghosts desperate efforts
to keep repairing the blood stain and deserve pity along with ridicule and it takes on a touch
of humour, when the blood stain becomes emerald green due to lack of resources .
Nevertheless in the initial stage the blood-stain is dramatically significant for it changes the
mindset of the Americans, who does not believe anything else.

8.

Elaborate upon the various attempts made by the Canterville ghost to frighten the Otis
family in about 150 words.
In keeping with hid habit ,nature and tradition, the Cantervlle Ghost was forever bent upon
frightening the Otis family. One night at around 11 o clock Mr Otis was awakened by a
curious noise in the corridor. When Mr Otis opened the door ,right in front of him he saw an
old man in a horrible condition, with burning red eyes , matted hair and heavy chains. But to
the ghosts indignation and surprise, Mr Otis unaffected, quietly offered him lubricator to oil
his chains. The ghost, angry and humiliated, decided to take revenge.
On Sunday night the family was awakened by a loud, crashing sound and they discovered a
large suit of armour had fallen from its stand and the Canterville ghost had been injured.
The twins fired two pellets at him and Mr. Otis with his revolver, ordered the ghost to hold
up his hands. This enraged the ghost. He fled, giving out frightening sounds of laughter. On
17th August he made another attempt. He selected a special dress and at midnight glided
trough the corridors when he suddenly saw a horrible ghost before him. Soon he realised
that he had been tricked again by the twins.
The ghost now planned to appearing a grand disguise. He wore big leather boots, took a
horse pistol and crept into the corridor. To frighten thee twins, at once, he flung their door

wide open. But a jug of water fell right down on him, wetting him thoroughly. The twins
burst into laughter and the ghost fled.
9.

What games and tricks did the twins play on the ghost which terrified and injured the
Canterville ghost. Answer in 150 words.
Cantervillr Ghost is ghost story with a difference. It has all the elements of a ghost story a
haunted house, a ghost, Gothic elements, murder, vengeance, spooky atmosphere. The
ghost is the main protagonist, a more interesting character, who goes about doing his
ghostly duties with panache. He plays a series of dramatic roles in his attempt, though failed
to terrify the Otis family.
Despite his ghostly efforts he unable to scare the Otis family including the twins who played
different tricks upon the ghost which in turn, terrified and injured the ghost.
Once, while he was passing through the corridor, the twins, dressed like ghosts, attacked
the ghost with pillows. He was caught unaware and ran towards his room. They stretched
strings across the corridor, over which he tripped in the dark. Once he slipped on a butterslide, which the twins had constructed for him on the staircase. This was very annoying for
the ghost and he decided to teach a lesson to the twins, giving them the fright of their lives.
He planned to appear before the twins in grand disguise which took him three hours to get
ready.

10.

Character sketch of Sir Simon

Sir Simon was a haughty, imperious and cruel nobleman who lived in Canterville Chase in the
late sixteenth century. He killed his wife because she was plain looking, did not get his ruffs
starched properly and was a poor cook. She had made a mess of the buck he had shot in
Hogley Woods. Her brothers took revenge by starving him to death and he had been
haunting Canterville Chase ever since.
As a ghost Sir Simon is more mischievous than malevolent. He is proud of his ability to scare
everyone away and cannot bear the thought of of being ineffective as a horrifying ghost.
However, he does not try to bodily harm anyone. In fact, the Canterville ghost is like an actor
who preens himself on his acting skills. He is very proud of his several disguises and the way
he manages to frighten aristocratic lords and ladies, maids and house-keepers as well as
members of the church.
The American family is the only one that resists all his tried and tested methods. The twins
emerge in their battle of wits with him.
Gradually the ghost becomes pitiable rather than hateful. The reader begins to pity him for
the torment he suffers at the hands of the twins. Later when he tells Virginia how he has not
eaten or slept for three hundred years, one feels truly sorry for him. The ghost has paid for
his sins and deserves release from his sad existence. He longs for the peace of death and
implores Virginia to help him. When Virginia agrees to do so, he is very happy. The ghost
does find everlasting death and as a token of his gratitude he gives to Virginia some priceless
family jewels. He is given an honourable funeral by his family and new friends.

11.

How did Virginia notice the Canterville ghost? Describe the meeting between her and the
ghost in about 130 words.
One day, Virginia was going by the back staircase. She noticed a person in one of the rooms.
She was surprised to see that it was the Canterville ghost. He looked very miserable and
lonely. Virginia told him to cheer up as the twins were going back to Eton and the ghost
would not be troubled by them. She advised him to behave so that no one would annoy him.
She reminded the ghost that he had killed his wife. The ghost told Virginia sadly that had
been starved to death by his brothers-in-law.
The ghost confided in Virginia that he had killed his wife as she had been bad at cooking abd
repair work. That reason, however, could not justify killing anyone. The ghost praised
Virginia for her kindness but called her family rude and dishonest which angered her. She
held, in fact, or Virginia to pray for him and then only the Angel of death will show mercy
on him. Virginia very graciously agreed.

12.

How did Virginia accompany the ghost to the Garden of Death ? Could she seek mercy
successfully/?
Virginia happened to meet the Canterville ghost in one of the rooms. The ghost during the
conversation confided in her about his life as to how he killed his wife, how he had been
starved and how lonely and miserable he was. Finding a compassionate listener in Virginia,
the repentant ghost pleaded desperately fo her to weep for his sins and pray for him so that
the Angel of Death could show mercy on him.
Virginia agreed to pray for the ghost and promised to ask the angel to have mercy on him. A
thankful ghost led her across the room to the Garden of Death. Virginia saw the wall fading
kike a mist and a bitter cold wind was blowing around. They went past the animals, strange
creatures and did not halt .In a moment the wall closed behind them and the tapestry
chamber was empty.
Thus finally Virginia, the harbinger of mercy and peace, helped Sir Simon to be laid to rest on
the end.

13.

Describe the funeral scene of Sir Simon, as depicted in the story in about 30 words.
Sir Simons funeral was grand and royal, befitting his lordly status. The hearse was drawn
by eight black horses; the leaden coffin was covered with a rich purple cloth, embroidered in
gold. Servants walked with lighted torches and the whole procession were very impressive
and colourful.
Lord Canterville was the chief mourner and he sat in the first carriage with Virginia. A grave
has been dug in the corner of the churchyard and service was conducted by Rev. Dampier.
Virginia laid a large cross, made a white and pink almond blossoms on the grave as alast
tribute. A nightingale started singing and even the moon appeared from behind a cloud.
Virginias eyes were full of tears as she remembered Sir Simons last wish to b laid in the
Garden of Death. She also felt fulfilled that Sir Simon had been granted forgiveness and was
laid to rest, as very much desired by the ghost.