Page 4 - Oscar Wilde

Themes
The Canterville Ghost is a humourous parody of the Gothic novel. Wilde uses parody to make poliKcal and social saKre. For example to show the contrast between BriKsh and American culture. Wild saKrises both American materialism and English old-fashioned culture. BriKsh characters respect past tradiKons , rank and stautus and do things accordind rituals. The Americans are skepKcals and materialisKc: they are for modern Kmes Money is another theme of the story: Lord Cantervilleclearly sells his family home because he needs money. On the contrary the Americans have plenty of money and spend it on English land and buildings to appear sophisKcated.
The story has also a more serious tone. Virginia is a figure who represents innocence and love in the the narraKve. She embodies the force of love that is “stronger than Life and death.