The Canterville Ghost Essay Questions

Is the ghost a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

At first, the ghost seems to be vain, egotistical, and focused on annoying (and even torturing) people around him. He is also a murderer who never expresses any remorse for his crime; in fact, he gets defensive when Virginia asks about the murder, claiming that he was justified in killing his wife because she was unattractive and a bad cook. However, the ghost's sadness and despair after he gives up on frightening the Otis family is potentially sympathetic. Scaring people was his talent and his life's work, and without a receptive audience, he has nothing to do. When he tells Virginia about how exhausted he is, and how much he longs to rest and be at peace, most readers will likely find him sympathetic. Virginia clearly does, because she agrees to help him—and, significantly, after she returns, she always speaks very affectionately of Sir Simon.

Why is the ghost so drawn to Virginia?

The ghost is drawn to Virginia for precisely the same reason the living are drawn to someone: unlike the rest of her family, she is nice to him. At the start of the story, the rest of the Otis family denies that he exists at all, but Virginia believes from the beginning. Then the family begins to mock him when they finally acknowledge his existence. Virginia, meanwhile, is understanding and kind, taking the trouble to get to know the ghost and ultimately freeing him not only from his actual chains but his metaphorical ones as well.

What might the reader of the story be able to plausibly infer about Wilde's view of Americans?

Wilde's view of Americans is almost as uncharitable as the Otis family's view of ghosts. The entire relationship between the ghost and the family can be explained by the fact that, being American, the family does not understand the long tradition of haunting in old English houses. This is Wilde's implied criticism that Americans do not understand the value of old traditions and are unwilling the change their beliefs. Wilde is rather judgmental in his presentation of the family and seems to find fault in the way that they can only make judgments based on their own experiences. However, Virginia functions as a positive representation of an American character since she shows compassion to the ghost and is also eventually integrated into the English aristocracy through her marriage.

What is the symbolic significance of the marriage between Virginia and the Duke?

The marriage between Virginia and the Duke symbolizes an integration of American and European cultural values. Although part of why Virginia is an attractive match is likely because of the wealth she will bring with her, the Duke also seems to have been in love with her for a long time. Virginia reflects the freshness, hope and new potential of the New World, while the Duke represents the tradition, history, and prestige of the Old World. The prospect of them having children together signifies the hope of a new generation that will represent the best of both traditions.

How does the story represent the tension between modernity and tradition?

The Otis family represent modernity. At the time when Wilde was writing, America had only been a nation for about a hundred years and had a much shorter history than most European cultures. American cultural values also tended to favor innovation and progress, perpetually looking forward to the future rather than reflecting on the values and traditions of the past. Part of why the Otis family does not even initially believe that the ghost exists is because the idea of ghosts seems antiquated and out of touch with a modern, scientific worldview. Whenever the ghost is causing them problems, the Otis family tries to solve it by relying on modern consumer products. This shows that they are not interested in tradition or keeping things the way they have always been. Instead, they want to change and improve things.