# The Canterville Ghost explained — Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories

> Chapter companion for Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Appearance vs. Reality

The ghost's terrifying appearance is undercut by the family's refusal to be frightened, revealing the power of perception and skepticism.

### Irony and Absurdity

The ghost's attempts at haunting are met with practical remedies like stain remover and lubricant, creating a comedic inversion of Gothic horror.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Hiram B. Otis

The American minister who purchases Canterville Chase and refuses to believe in ghosts.

### Mrs. Otis

Mr. Otis's wife, who offers the ghost a bottle of Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator for his chains.

### Washington Otis

The eldest Otis son, who removes the bloodstain with Pinkerton's Champion Stain Remover.

### Virginia E. Otis

The young Otis daughter, who later plays a key role in the ghost's redemption.

### The Canterville Ghost

Sir Simon de Canterville, the ghost who has haunted the house for centuries but is outwitted by the Otis family.

## Key lines

> The Canterville Ghost A Hylo-Idealistic Romance

The story is subtitled as a blend of materialism and idealism, suggesting a playful philosophical take on the ghost story.

_The subtitle sets the tone for the story's ironic treatment of supernatural themes._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lord_arthur_savile_s_crime_and_other_stories_se/chapters/the-canterville-ghost
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lord_arthur_savile_s_crime_and_other_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lord_arthur_savile_s_crime_and_other_stories_se/chapters