Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde.
Chapter 1
Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime
Lord Arthur Savile attends Lady Windermere's reception where a chiromantist, Mr. Podgers, reads his palm and reveals that he will commit a murder. Horrified by the prophecy, Arthur becomes consumed by the idea that he must fulfill this fate before he can marry Sybil Merton. He decides to commit the murder as a duty, setting off a darkly comic series of attempts.
Chapter 2
I
The narrator dines with Erskine, and their conversation turns to literary forgeries. Erskine reveals that his friend Cyril Graham forged a portrait of Mr. W. H. to prove his theory that the young man addressed in Shakespeare's Sonnets was a boy-actor named Willie Hughes. After the forgery was discovered, Cyril Graham shot himself.
Chapter 3
Chapter II
The narrator awakens and immerses himself in Shakespeare's Sonnets, finding evidence for Cyril Graham's theory that Mr. W. H. is Willie Hughes, a boy-actor. He interprets the sonnets as Shakespeare's invitation for Hughes to marry his Muse and create immortal art through the stage, while also noting Shakespeare's ambivalence toward the theatre. The narrator resolves the puzzle of Shakespeare's urgings for Hughes to marry by interpreting it as a call to artistic rather than literal marriage.
Chapter 4
III
The narrator recounts his attempt to persuade Erskine to embrace Cyril Graham's Willie Hughes theory, only to experience a sudden loss of faith himself. Despite his efforts to dissuade Erskine, Erskine becomes a fervent believer and later dies, apparently by suicide, for the theory. The narrator rushes to Cannes only to learn from the doctor that Erskine actually died of consumption, and Lady Erskine gives him the forged portrait of Willie Hughes as a memento.
Chapter 5
IV
The Canterville Ghost, weakened and humiliated by the Otis family's relentless pranks, retreats to his room. He attempts to fulfill his supernatural duties with caution but is continually thwarted by the twins' traps, including a butter-slide and a falling water jug. After a final failed attempt to scare the young Duke of Cheshire, he resigns himself to defeat, while Virginia rides with the Duke and the family resumes their normal activities.
Chapter 6
V
Virginia encounters the Canterville Ghost in the Tapestry Chamber, where she finds him in deep despair. She comforts him, and they discuss his past sins and his longing for death. The Ghost reveals an ancient prophecy that a golden girl must weep and pray for him to find peace. Virginia agrees to help, and he leads her through a mystical passage into a dark cavern.
Chapter 7
Chapter VI
Virginia Otis disappears, causing a frantic search by her family and the young Duke of Cheshire. After a night of failed efforts, she reappears mysteriously, leading them to the ghost's skeleton in a secret room, where she reveals he has died and been forgiven.
Chapter 8
The Canterville Ghost
The Otis family moves into Canterville Chase, despite warnings that the house is haunted. They encounter the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville, who attempts to frighten them but is met with mockery and practical jokes. The ghost becomes increasingly frustrated and humiliated by the family's lack of fear.
Chapter 9
I
The narrator dines with Erskine, and their conversation turns to literary forgeries. Erskine reveals that his friend Cyril Graham forged a portrait of Mr. W. H. to prove his theory that the young man addressed in Shakespeare's Sonnets was a boy-actor named Willie Hughes. After the forgery was discovered, Cyril Graham shot himself.
Chapter 10
Chapter II
The narrator awakens and immerses himself in Shakespeare's Sonnets, finding evidence for Cyril Graham's theory that Mr. W. H. is Willie Hughes, a boy-actor. He interprets the sonnets as Shakespeare's invitation for Hughes to marry his Muse and create immortal art through the stage, while also noting Shakespeare's ambivalence toward the theatre. The narrator resolves the puzzle of Shakespeare's urgings for Hughes to marry by interpreting it as a call to artistic rather than literal marriage.
Chapter 11
III
The narrator recounts his attempt to persuade Erskine to embrace Cyril Graham's Willie Hughes theory, only to experience a sudden loss of faith himself. Despite his efforts to dissuade Erskine, Erskine becomes a fervent believer and later dies, apparently by suicide, for the theory. The narrator rushes to Cannes only to learn from the doctor that Erskine actually died of consumption, and Lady Erskine gives him the forged portrait of Willie Hughes as a memento.
Chapter 12
IV
The Canterville Ghost, weakened and humiliated by the Otis family's relentless pranks, retreats to his room. He attempts to fulfill his supernatural duties with caution but is continually thwarted by the twins' traps, including a butter-slide and a falling water jug. After a final failed attempt to scare the young Duke of Cheshire, he resigns himself to defeat, while Virginia rides with the Duke and the family resumes their normal activities.
Chapter 13
V
Virginia encounters the Canterville Ghost in the Tapestry Chamber, where she finds him in deep despair. She comforts him, and they discuss his past sins and his longing for death. The Ghost reveals an ancient prophecy that a golden girl must weep and pray for him to find peace. Virginia agrees to help, and he leads her through a mystical passage into a dark cavern.
Chapter 14
Chapter VI
Virginia Otis disappears, causing a frantic search by her family and the young Duke of Cheshire. After a night of failed efforts, she reappears mysteriously, leading them to the ghost's skeleton in a secret room, where she reveals he has died and been forgiven.
Chapter 15
VII
The funeral of Sir Simon, the Canterville Ghost, takes place at night with a grand procession. Virginia lays a cross of almond-blossoms on his coffin. Afterwards, Mr. Otis tries to return the ghost's jewels to Lord Canterville, but Lord Canterville insists they belong to Virginia. Years later, Virginia marries the Duke of Cheshire, and they visit the grave. The Duke asks Virginia to reveal what happened with the ghost, but she keeps it secret, saying the ghost taught her about life, death, and love.
Chapter 16
The Sphinx Without a Secret
Lord Murchison recounts to a friend his obsessive love for the enigmatic Lady Alroy, whose secretive behavior leads him to discover she rented a room solely to sit in solitude, revealing her as a woman with a mania for mystery rather than a hidden intrigue.
Chapter 17
The Model Millionaire
Hughie Erskine, a charming but impoverished young man, visits his friend Alan Trevor's studio and, out of pity, gives a sovereign to an old beggar model. He later learns that the beggar is actually Baron Hausberg, a wealthy millionaire. Impressed by Hughie's generosity, the Baron later sends him a wedding gift of £10,000, enabling Hughie to marry his beloved Laura Merton.
Chapter 18
The Portrait of Mr. W. H.
The narrator dines with Erskine, and their conversation turns to literary forgeries. Erskine reveals that his friend Cyril Graham, who believed Shakespeare's sonnets were addressed to a boy-actor named Willie Hughes, forged a portrait of Mr. W. H. to prove his theory. After Erskine discovered the forgery, they quarreled, and Cyril Graham shot himself.
Chapter 19
I
The narrator dines with Erskine, and their conversation turns to literary forgeries. Erskine reveals that his friend Cyril Graham forged a portrait of Mr. W. H. to prove his theory that the young man addressed in Shakespeare's Sonnets was a boy-actor named Willie Hughes. After the forgery was discovered, Cyril Graham shot himself.
Chapter 20
Chapter II
The narrator awakens and immerses himself in Shakespeare's Sonnets, finding evidence for Cyril Graham's theory that Mr. W. H. is Willie Hughes, a boy-actor. He interprets the sonnets as Shakespeare's invitation for Hughes to marry his Muse and create immortal art through the stage, while also noting Shakespeare's ambivalence toward the theatre. The narrator resolves the puzzle of Shakespeare's urgings for Hughes to marry by interpreting it as a call to artistic rather than literal marriage.
Chapter 21
III
The narrator recounts his attempt to persuade Erskine to embrace Cyril Graham's Willie Hughes theory, only to experience a sudden loss of faith himself. Despite his efforts to dissuade Erskine, Erskine becomes a fervent believer and later dies, apparently by suicide, for the theory. The narrator rushes to Cannes only to learn from the doctor that Erskine actually died of consumption, and Lady Erskine gives him the forged portrait of Willie Hughes as a memento.
Chapter 22
Endnotes
This chapter contains endnotes referencing various sonnets, likely providing citations or explanatory notes for the preceding text.
