Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Lord Arthur Savile's Crime; The Portrait of Mr. W.H., and Other Stories, by Oscar Wilde
For the rest of the week, however, they were undisturbed, the only thing
that excited any attention being the continual renewal of the blood-stain
on the library floor. This certainly was very strange, as the door was
always locked at night by Mr. Otis, and the windows kept closely barred.
The chameleon-like colour, also, of the stain excited a good deal of
comment. Some mornings it was a dull (almost Indian) red, then it would
be vermilion, then a rich purple, and once when they came down for family
prayers, according to the simple rites of the Free American Reformed
Episcopalian Church, they found it a bright emerald-green. These
kaleidoscopic changes naturally amused the party very much, and bets on
the subject were freely made every evening. The only person who did not
enter into the joke was little Virginia, who, for some unexplained
reason, was always a good deal distressed at the sight of the
blood-stain, and very nearly cried the morning it was emerald-green.
The second appearance of the ghost was on Sunday night. Shortly after
they had gone to bed they were suddenly alarmed by a fearful crash in the
hall. Rushing downstairs, they found that a large suit of old armour had
become detached from its stand, and had fallen on the stone floor, while,
seated in a high-backed chair, was the Canterville ghost, rubbing his
knees with an expression of acute agony on his face. The twins, having
brought their pea-shooters with them, at once discharged two pellets on
him, with that accuracy of aim which can only be attained by long and
careful practice on a writing-master, while the United States Minister
covered him with his revolver, and called upon him, in accordance with
Californian etiquette, to hold up his hands! The ghost started up with a
wild shriek of rage, and swept through them like a mist, extinguishing
Washington Otis’s candle as he passed, and so leaving them all in total
darkness. On reaching the top of the staircase he recovered himself, and
determined to give his celebrated peal of demoniac laughter. This he had
on more than one occasion found extremely useful. It was said to have
turned Lord Raker’s wig grey in a single night, and had certainly made
three of Lady Canterville’s French governesses give warning before their
month was up. He accordingly laughed his most horrible laugh, till the
old vaulted roof rang and rang again, but hardly had the fearful echo
died away when a door opened, and Mrs. Otis came out in a light blue
dressing-gown. ‘I am afraid you are far from well,’ she said, ‘and have
brought you a bottle of Dr. Dobell’s tincture. If it is indigestion, you
will find it a most excellent remedy.’ The ghost glared at her in fury,
and began at once to make preparations for turning himself into a large
black dog, an accomplishment for which he was justly renowned, and to
which the family doctor always attributed the permanent idiocy of Lord
Canterville’s uncle, the Hon. Thomas Horton. The sound of approaching
footsteps, however, made him hesitate in his fell purpose, so he
contented himself with becoming faintly phosphorescent, and vanished with
a deep churchyard groan, just as the twins had come up to him.
On reaching his room he entirely broke down, and became a prey to the
most violent agitation. The vulgarity of the twins, and the gross
materialism of Mrs. Otis, were naturally extremely annoying, but what
really distressed him most was, that he had been unable to wear the suit
of mail. He had hoped that even modern Americans would be thrilled by
the sight of a Spectre In Armour, if for no more sensible reason, at
least out of respect for their national poet Longfellow, over whose
graceful and attractive poetry he himself had whiled away many a weary
hour when the Cantervilles were up in town. Besides, it was his own
suit. He had worn it with great success at the Kenilworth tournament,
and had been highly complimented on it by no less a person than the
Virgin Queen herself. Yet when he had put it on, he had been completely
overpowered by the weight of the huge breastplate and steel casque, and
had fallen heavily on the stone pavement, barking both his knees
severely, and bruising the knuckles of his right hand.
Explanation
This excerpt is from The Canterville Ghost, one of the short stories in Oscar Wilde’s collection Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and Other Stories (1891). The tale is a satirical comedy that subverts traditional Gothic horror tropes by pitting a quintessentially British ghost against a pragmatic, modern American family, the Otises. Wilde uses humor, irony, and social commentary to explore themes of cultural clash, the decline of aristocracy, and the absurdity of superstition in the face of rationalism. Below is a detailed analysis of the passage, focusing on its textual elements, themes, and literary devices.
Context and Summary of the Excerpt
The Otises, an American family, have moved into Canterville Chase, a haunted English manor. The ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, takes pride in his terrifying reputation, but the Otises—particularly the twins and Mrs. Otis—refuse to be frightened, treating his antics with amusement or practical solutions. The excerpt describes two key incidents:
- The mysterious, shape-shifting bloodstain in the library, which fascinates the family (except Virginia, the sensitive daughter).
- The ghost’s second appearance, where he attempts to scare the family but is met with ridicule, physical attacks (pea-shooters, a revolver), and Mrs. Otis’s maternal concern (offering him indigestion medicine).
The ghost’s frustration stems from his failure to intimidate the Otises, his physical incompetence (e.g., unable to wear his armor), and their dismissive, modern attitude toward his haunting.
Key Themes in the Excerpt
Cultural Clash: American Pragmatism vs. British Tradition
- The Otises represent the new world: practical, irreverent, and technologically inclined (e.g., Mrs. Otis’s medicine, the twins’ pea-shooters, Mr. Otis’s revolver). They treat the ghost as a nuisance rather than a supernatural terror.
- The ghost embodies old-world aristocracy: he clings to his historical reputation, his armor (a symbol of chivalry), and his poetic sensibilities (referencing Longfellow). His failure to wear the armor humorously underscores the decline of his era’s values.
- The bloodstain’s changing colors (a Gothic trope) is reduced to a gambling game by the Otises, stripping it of its ominous significance.
The Absurdity of the Supernatural
- Wilde parodies Gothic conventions by making the ghost inept and the family unfazed. The ghost’s dramatic laughter (a classic haunting tactic) is met with Mrs. Otis’s domestic concern—she assumes he’s sick, not scary.
- The ghost’s attempts to transform (into a black dog, phosphorescent mist) are half-hearted and interrupted, emphasizing his impotence. His "deep churchyard groan" is undercut by the twins’ arrival, turning terror into farce.
Generational and Gendered Responses to the Supernatural
- The twins (young, mischievous) treat the ghost as a target for pranks, reflecting youthful irreverence.
- Mrs. Otis responds with maternal pragmatism, offering medicine—a comedic contrast to the ghost’s expectation of fear.
- Virginia is the only one disturbed by the bloodstain, hinting at her sensitivity and eventual role as the ghost’s redeemer (later in the story, she helps him find peace). Her reaction foreshadows her empathy.
The Decline of the Aristocracy
- The ghost’s physical decay (bruised knees, inability to wear armor) mirrors the decay of his social status. His armor, once admired by Queen Elizabeth I, now crushes him—a metaphor for the burden of outdated traditions.
- His reference to Longfellow (an American poet) is ironic: he assumes the Otises will respect poetic tradition, but they have no patience for his theatrics.
Literary Devices
Irony and Satire
- Situational Irony: The ghost, who expects to terrify, is instead terrified (by the twins’ pea-shooters) and pitiable (needing indigestion medicine).
- Dramatic Irony: The reader knows the ghost is harmless, while he believes in his own menace. His "celebrated peal of demoniac laughter" is undercut by Mrs. Otis’s prosaic response.
- Verbal Irony: The ghost’s "acute agony" is described with mock-epic grandeur, contrasting with the mundane cause (falling armor).
Humor and Hyperbole
- Exaggeration: The ghost’s reputation (turning wigs grey, driving governesses mad) is overblown, making his failure funnier.
- Understatement: Mrs. Otis’s calm offer of medicine is deliberately anticlimactic after the ghost’s dramatic entrance.
- Physical Comedy: The ghost’s pratfall (falling in armor) and the twins’ pea-shooter attack turn horror into slapstick.
Symbolism
- The Bloodstain: Traditionally a Gothic symbol of guilt or violence, here it becomes a commodity for bets, stripping it of meaning. Its changing colors reflect the ghost’s instability and the family’s changing reactions.
- The Armor: Represents the weight of history—the ghost is literally crushed by it, symbolizing the unsustainability of aristocratic traditions in the modern world.
Allusion
- Longfellow: The ghost’s reference to the American poet is a failed appeal to shared culture. The Otises, however, have no reverence for his poetic sensibilities.
- Historical Figures: The ghost’s boasts about Queen Elizabeth I and the Kenilworth tournament highlight his obsolescence—his glory days are long past.
Contrast
- Light vs. Darkness: The ghost’s phosphorescence and extinguished candle create a battle of light, but the darkness is comic, not ominous.
- Old vs. New: The ghost’s medieval armor vs. the Otises’ modern weapons (revolver, pea-shooters) underscores the clash of eras.
Significance of the Excerpt
Subversion of Gothic Tropes
- Wilde inverts the haunted house story: the ghost is the victim, not the villain. The Otises’ refusal to be scared exposes the absurdity of Gothic conventions.
- The excerpt critiques British nostalgia for the past, showing how modern pragmatism renders it ridiculous.
Social Commentary
- The story reflects late 19th-century tensions between old European aristocracy and new American wealth. The Otises’ purchase of Canterville Chase symbolizes the transfer of power from the old world to the new.
- The ghost’s failure to adapt mirrors the decline of the British nobility in the face of industrialization and democracy.
Character Development
- The ghost’s vulnerability here foreshadows his later redemption through Virginia, who alone treats him with compassion.
- The Otises’ indifference sets up Virginia as the moral center of the story, bridging the gap between the old and new worlds.
Wilde’s Style
- The passage exemplifies Wilde’s wit, paradox, and aestheticism. Even in a comedic scene, he elevates the mundane (e.g., the bloodstain’s colors described with poetic precision).
- The dialogue is sharp and culturally specific (e.g., "Californian etiquette" for the revolver threat), adding to the satire.
Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters
This passage is a microcosm of Wilde’s themes: the collision of cultures, the absurdity of tradition, and the power of modernity to dismantle superstition. The ghost’s pathetic attempts to be frightening highlight the fragility of his world, while the Otises’ practicality represents the inevitability of change. Wilde uses humor to expose the ridiculousness of both sides—the ghost’s pretentiousness and the Otises’ materialism—while ultimately suggesting that empathy (via Virginia) is the only true bridge between past and present.
The excerpt also sets the tone for the rest of the story, where the ghost’s redemption will come not through fear, but through human connection—a quintessentially Wildean resolution that prioritizes beauty and compassion over rigid tradition.