31 pages 1 hour read

Oscar Wilde

The Canterville Ghost

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1887

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Chapter 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 4 Summary

As this chapter begins, Sir Simon is exhausted. He considers certain tasks to be a part of his duty, such as roaming the corridor on Saturday nights. However, he stops creating the blood stain and goes so far as to take off his boots and oil his chains with the Rising Sun Lubricator, which he grudgingly comes to appreciate. Despite this, he feels tormented by the twins’ constant efforts to make him fall. They stretch strings across the corridor and make a butter-slide for him.

He decides he will rally to retaliate once more, and will try to scare the twins by dressing as Reckless Rupert, or the Headless Earl. When he gets to their room, known as the Blue Bed Chamber, he flings open the door only to be doused with water from above. The jug that formerly held the water nearly hits his shoulder as it falls. The twins laugh at him.

Sir Simon then tries not to get caught at all during his hauntings. He wears slippers instead of boots, continues to oil his chains, and dons a thick red scarf to ward off drafts. He carries an arquebuse (a long gun) to defend himself from the twins should they attempt to attack him.

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