Picture Credit: Alma Books
Most relatable stuff ? When we binge over horror series and movies,feel scared and watch one episode of funny or animated stuff before going to bed so that we don’t hallucinate ghosts made up from random clothes on the chairs, beneath the bed,on the ceiling and behind the curtains.
This is really rib-tickling but what else can a poor soul do to neutralise the terrifying impact of the movie because this genre is really spine chilling.
What if I suggest a horror story that will make your ribs tickle subtly and leaves you amazed? ‘The Canterville Ghost’ is such a rollicking story that you really need to read before you think of horror stories as dreadful.
Introduction
Book’s Name - The Canterville Ghost
Author’s Name - Oscar Wilde
Genre - Gothic Fiction (Writing style characterized with balanced blend of horror,fear,sorrow and romantic elements.)
Language - English
Synopsis - Spoiler Alert!
Picture Credit: Film Comment
Despite Lord Canterville's warnings that the house is haunted, Hiram B. Otis and his family move into Canterville Chase, an English country house. Mr. Otis says he'll take the furniture and the ghost for a reasonable price. Mr. and Mrs. Otis, their eldest son Washington, their daughter Virginia, and the Otis twins make up the Otis family.
No one in the Otis family believes in ghosts at first, but soon after they move in, they can't deny the existence of Sir Simon de Canterville. Mrs. Otis simply says, "She does not care at all about bloodstains in the living room," when she sees a mysterious bloodstain on the floor.
The stain can be cleaned with Pinkerton's Champion Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent, according to Washington Otis, the eldest sibling.
When the ghost emerges for the first time, Mr. Otis jumps from his bed and offers the ghost Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator to grease his chains. The ghost hurls the bottle into the hallway, enraged. The ghost flees after the Otis twins throw pillows on him.
Bloodstains occur on the floor near the fireplace and are cleaned every time they appear, in different shades, according to the Otis family. The family continues to live in terror, despite the ghost's best efforts and most grotesque disguises, leaving Sir Simon feeling increasingly powerless and embarrassed.
Virginia, the lovely and wise fifteen-year-old daughter, stands out from the rest of the family to Sir Simon. He says that he hasn't slept in 300 years and that he is desperate to do so.
Lady Eleanor de Canterville's sad story is told to her by the ghost. Virginia pays attention to him and discovers a valuable lesson as well as the real meaning of a riddle.
She weeps for him and prays for him, and she walks through the wainscoting with Sir Simon to the Garden of Death, where she bids the ghost farewell.
About the Author
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright who lived from 16 October 1854 to 30 November 1900. After writing in various forms in the 1880s, he rose to prominence as one of London's most prominent playwrights in the early 1890s. His epigrams and plays are his most well-known works.
Wilde attended Trinity College, Dublin, and Magdalen College, Oxford, for his studies. Wilde became interested in the aesthetic movement while at Oxford. He moved to London after graduation to pursue a literary career.
His work was varied. His first book of poetry was published in 1881, but he also wrote fairy tales, contributed to publications including the 'Pall Mall Gazette,' and published a novel called 'The Image of Dorian Gray' (1891).
His greatest talent was writing plays, and he was responsible for some highly successful comedies, including 'Lady Windermere's Fan' (1892), 'An Ideal Husband (1895),' and 'The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).
About the Book
Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost" is a lighthearted short story. It was Wilde's first story to be published, appearing in two parts in The Court and Society Review on February 23 and March 2, 1887.
The plot revolves around an American family who relocate to a castle possessed by the ghost of a dead English nobleman who murdered his wife and was then walled in by his wife's brothers and starved to death. It's been adapted for stage and screen several times.
One of the most famous adaptations of the story was the 1996 family movie directed by Sydney Macartney under the same title.
Themes Involved
Cultural differences, reality of death, ultimacy of sin and redemption are some of the major themes that are highlighted in ‘The Canterville Ghost’.
The cultural differences between America and England has been broadly and subtly presented by Oscar Wilde. The contrast between both the cultures have been aptly used to bring the element of humor in the story where Lord Canterville speaks of English worldview and Mr. Otis represents the American culture.
Death has been depicted as the most fearful act but desirable at the same time. The way Sir Simon died and killed his wife was dreadful but now he seeks the real death i.e. to attain pantheistic salvation. He is paying for the sins he committed from the past 300 years showing that sins are never left unpaid.
When Virginia prays and cries for the ghost, it leads to him to gain redemption. She thinks that now finally the ‘God has forgiven him’ when the almond tree blossoms.
Famous Quotes
“Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one's head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace.”
“He made me see what Life is, and what Death signifies, and why Love is stronger than both.”
The Bottom line
‘The Canterville Ghost’ is a light-hearted and interesting read. It makes you laugh, introspect, and compel you to think of the parallel dimension while keeping your eyeballs engaged in itself.
This is really a great pick for the ones who admire humorous and superstitious thrilling experiences because this is really going to thrill you right from the beginning to the end.
My ratings for the book - 4 on 5
You can buy a copy from Amazon right away- The Canterville Ghost
Written By - Palak Chauhan
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