Notes on The Canterville Ghost

Overview

Mr. Hiram B. Otis: Main character; does not believe in ghosts.
Lord Canterville: Owner of Canterville Chase; warns Mr. Otis about the ghost.
Mrs. Omni: Housekeeper at Canterville Chase; fearful of the ghost.
Otis Family: Includes Mrs. Otis, their sons Washington and twins, and daughter Virginia.

Purchase of the House: Mr. Otis buys Canterville Chase despite warnings about the ghost.
First Encounter with the Ghost: Mr. Otis encounters the ghost at night but offers him oil for his noisy chains instead of being afraid.
Children's Reactions: The Otis twins throw pillows at the ghost, surprising him instead of fearing him.
Blood Stain Mystery: A blood stain reappears in the library despite Washington Otis's attempts to remove it with Pinkerton Stain Remover.
Ghost’s Frustration: The ghost struggles to frighten the Otis family as they are unafraid and often laugh at him.

Cultural Differences: The American family's nonchalance towards supernatural beliefs contrasts with traditional English fears of ghosts.
Empathy: Virginia Otis shows compassion towards the ghost, understanding his loneliness and hunger for peace.
Redemption: The ghost seeks peace after being cursed to wander for 300 years due to his past actions.

Virginia’s Sacrifice: Virginia helps the ghost find peace by weeping for him, allowing the angel of death to take him to the garden of sleep.
Funeral: The family holds a funeral for Sir Simon de Canterville, the ghost, giving him a proper burial and closure.

Transformation: The Otis family’s interactions with the ghost challenge the traditional ghost story narrative.
Acceptance: The ghost, once feared, is finally accepted and granted peace through Virginia's kindness.