Plz give me the summary of the novel 'The canterville Ghost' plz do it fast :)
Answers
Answered by
2
“The Canterville Ghost” is a comical story that highlights the differences in British and American cultures during the nineteenth century. Wilde uses the story to critique both cultures. More telling, given the story’s ending and that the events are closely placed within the historical context of conflicting views and several wars, the overall theme of forgiveness reads surprisingly fresh, even in today’s time. Ironically, Wilde’s story was received in his day with little fanfare. Though it began its publication serially in 1887, it would not be until Wilde’s now-famous novel The Picture of Dorian Gray was published in 1891 that Wilde would begin his long-lasting critical acclaim as a notable writer and thinker.
When the story was first published, and even later, when it was again published in a group of short stories, critics pointed out that the work was derivative, and as such, unoriginal. It would not be until much later that critics began praising Wilde for the story’s ability to draw upon various genres and writers to tell its tale. This use of material and reference points from other works actually aids in making the story so relevant and comical.
The story itself concerns Horace B. Otis, who is an American minister, and his family. The family buys Canterville Chase, which is a purportedly haunted Tudor mansion. The minister’s English friends try to warn him about the haunted mansion but, being American, he pays no heed to ghost stories, and moves the family into the mansion. The family finds a bloodstain on the carpet, and the mother, Lucretia, wants the horrible stain removed. The housekeeper, Mr. Umney, tells the family that the stain is historic, and should not be removed. The oldest child, Washington, says the stain can easily be removed with cleanser, and sets about removing it. As he does, thunder and lightning start outside, causing the housekeeper to pass out. Each successive morning, the stain reappears. And each morning, it is again removed with the cleaner.
A few nights later, the ghost appears to Mr. Otis and his two twin sons in a hallway. Though it attempts to scare them, Mr. Otis simply replies that it might use a lubricant for its creaking chains, and the twins throw pillows at the ghost’s head. The ghost retreats to its quarters, shocked at the family’s reaction. It begins to reminisce on its past victories of scaring the mansion’s inhabitants, causing them to go mad or commit suicide. It then thinks up a plan to get back at the American family for its lack of fear concerning the ghost.
When the story was first published, and even later, when it was again published in a group of short stories, critics pointed out that the work was derivative, and as such, unoriginal. It would not be until much later that critics began praising Wilde for the story’s ability to draw upon various genres and writers to tell its tale. This use of material and reference points from other works actually aids in making the story so relevant and comical.
The story itself concerns Horace B. Otis, who is an American minister, and his family. The family buys Canterville Chase, which is a purportedly haunted Tudor mansion. The minister’s English friends try to warn him about the haunted mansion but, being American, he pays no heed to ghost stories, and moves the family into the mansion. The family finds a bloodstain on the carpet, and the mother, Lucretia, wants the horrible stain removed. The housekeeper, Mr. Umney, tells the family that the stain is historic, and should not be removed. The oldest child, Washington, says the stain can easily be removed with cleanser, and sets about removing it. As he does, thunder and lightning start outside, causing the housekeeper to pass out. Each successive morning, the stain reappears. And each morning, it is again removed with the cleaner.
A few nights later, the ghost appears to Mr. Otis and his two twin sons in a hallway. Though it attempts to scare them, Mr. Otis simply replies that it might use a lubricant for its creaking chains, and the twins throw pillows at the ghost’s head. The ghost retreats to its quarters, shocked at the family’s reaction. It begins to reminisce on its past victories of scaring the mansion’s inhabitants, causing them to go mad or commit suicide. It then thinks up a plan to get back at the American family for its lack of fear concerning the ghost.
Similar questions