The Canterville ghost Oscar wilde 1

About the author Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1854, Oscar Wilde was the son of William Wilde (later knighted), a surgeon, and Jane Francesca Elgee, a writer. Wilde attended both trinity college and oxford university, and later settled in London. Influenced by the English writer, Walter Pater, Wilde embarked on a livery career and published poems in Wilde wrote many short stories, plays and poems that continue to inspire millions around the world. His plays are full of wit, but the also have good plots. Wilde wrote many plays including, according to many critics, the best comedy play of the nineteenth century, the farce the importance of being earnest. Wilde also wrote fairy stories, short stories and one novel. Some of his other notable playswere A Woman of No Importance (1893) and An Ideal Husband (1895). 2

The Canterville Ghost "The Canterville Ghost" is a popular short story by Oscar Wilde, widely adapted for the screen and stage. It was the first of Wilde's stories to be published, appearing in the magazine The Court and Society Review in February It was later included in a collection of short stories entitled Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories in

Setting The story of the Canterville Ghost takes place in an old English country house, Canterville Chase, which has all the accoutrements of a traditional haunted house. Descriptions of the wainscoting, the library paneled in black oak, and the armor in the hallway characterize the Gothic setting and help Wilde clash the Old World with the New. Typical of the style of the English Decadents,[citation needed] the Gothic atmosphere reveals the author’s fascination with the macabre. Yet he mixes the macabre with comedy, juxtaposing devices from traditional English ghost stories such as creaking floorboards, clanking chains, and ancient prophecies with symbols of modern American consumerism. 4

Plot American minister Hiram Otis and his family have recently moved to Canterville Chase, just outside of London. The previous owners made it quite clear to the Otis family upon purchase of the estate that the home was haunted. Being a practical, upstanding family with republican values, the Otises don’t believe in anything of the supernatural sort. The reappearing blood stain in the front room and the perpetual visits of a rather noisy, translucent visitor with a taste for the theatrical, however, quickly convince the good American minister and his kin otherwise. What do they say about the presence of this apparition in their abode? How rude!! As desperate as he is to scare the wits out of his newest victims, it seems this ghost may have bitten off more than he can chew. 5

Wits Humor is the most powerful weapon used by Wilde to defuse the tension and scary atmosphere that would have resulted in a traditional ghost story. Phantoms, strange noises, blood stains, even the haunting of the ghost in the corridors are all treated with humor: Mr. Otis offers lubricant for creaking chains, the persistent blood stain is cleaned with stain remover, and the ghost appears in a miserable state that shocks no one. After Mr. Otis offers him Lubricator to oil his chains, the ghost laughs demoniacally, then 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." 6

Wits Oscar Wilde treats even murder non-seriously. Sir Simon murdered his wife because she was not a good cook nor could do repair work. Sir Simon even gloats to himself about the people he drove to their insanity or deaths as a ghost. He becomes frustrated because the Otises are incapable of appreciating the symbolic value of apparitions, blood stains, development of astral bodies and his solemn duty to haunt the castle. All the tricks played on the ghost are humorous, with the most ironic being the fake ghost which frightens the 'real' Canterville ghost. 7

Questions What did lord Canterville tell Mr. Otis when he was about to buy the house? Did he do so because he: 1- did not want to sell the house? 2- was honest? What did the twins do? Describe the setting of the story. 8

Questions What did lord Canterville tell Mr. Otis when he was about to buy the house? Did he do so because he: 1- did not want to sell the house? 2- was honest? What did the twins do? Describe the setting of the story. 9

By ALIYAN JAFRI 7B5 10

The Canterville ghost Oscar wilde 11