« The Canterville Ghost and Other Stories » is a collection of short stories written by the renowned Irish author, Oscar Wilde. The book features a range of tales that showcase Wilde’s wit, humor, and poignant insights into the human condition. One of the most popular stories in the collection is « The Canterville Ghost, » which tells the story of a haunted house and the American family who moves in. This article provides a summary of the book, highlighting key themes and characters in each story.
The Canterville Ghost and Other Stories: A Summary by Oscar Wilde
« The Canterville Ghost and Other Stories » is a collection of short stories written by Oscar Wilde. The book includes five stories, each with its own unique plot and characters. The title story, « The Canterville Ghost, » is a humorous tale about an American family who moves into a haunted English mansion. The ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, has been haunting the mansion for centuries, but the American family is not afraid of him and instead, they play pranks on him. The story is a satire on the differences between American and British culture.
The other stories in the collection include « Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, » « The Sphinx Without a Secret, » « The Model Millionaire, » and « The Portrait of Mr. W.H. » Each story explores different themes such as love, wealth, and morality. Wilde’s writing style is witty and satirical, and he uses his stories to comment on the society of his time.
Overall, « The Canterville Ghost and Other Stories » is a delightful collection of short stories that showcases Wilde’s talent for storytelling and his unique perspective on life. The book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys classic literature and wants to experience the wit and humor of one of the greatest writers of the Victorian era.
The Model Millionaire
« The Model Millionaire » is a short story written by Oscar Wilde that tells the tale of a young man named Hughie Erskine who falls in love with a beautiful woman named Laura Merton. However, Hughie is not wealthy enough to marry Laura, and he becomes desperate to find a way to make enough money to win her hand.
One day, Hughie meets a beggar who asks him for a shilling. Feeling sorry for the man, Hughie gives him a sovereign instead. The beggar turns out to be a wealthy man named Baron Hausberg, who is impressed by Hughie’s generosity and offers him a job as a model for a painting.
Hughie agrees to the job, and the painting becomes a huge success, making Hughie a millionaire overnight. He is finally able to marry Laura and live a life of luxury. However, Hughie soon realizes that money cannot buy happiness, and he becomes disillusioned with his shallow and materialistic lifestyle.
« The Model Millionaire » is a poignant commentary on the dangers of wealth and the importance of true happiness. Oscar Wilde’s masterful storytelling and witty prose make this short story a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of happiness.
The Sphinx Without a Secret
« The Sphinx Without a Secret » is a short story by Oscar Wilde that explores the theme of appearance versus reality. The story follows a man named Mr. Merton who becomes infatuated with a mysterious woman named Mrs. Erlynne. Despite her beauty and charm, Mrs. Erlynne is shrouded in secrecy, and Mr. Merton becomes determined to uncover her past.
As he delves deeper into Mrs. Erlynne’s history, Mr. Merton discovers that she is not the virtuous woman she appears to be. In fact, she has a scandalous past and is only interested in using her beauty and charm to manipulate wealthy men. Mr. Merton is disillusioned by this revelation and realizes that he was only attracted to Mrs. Erlynne’s appearance, not her true character.
« The Sphinx Without a Secret » is a cautionary tale about the dangers of judging people based on their appearance. It reminds us that things are not always as they seem and that we should be wary of those who try to deceive us with their charm and beauty. Oscar Wilde’s masterful storytelling and insightful commentary make this story a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of human nature.
The Happy Prince
« The Happy Prince » is a beautiful and heart-warming story written by Oscar Wilde. The story revolves around a statue of a prince who was once a real prince but died young. The statue is covered in gold and jewels and stands high above the city. One day, a swallow who was left behind by his flock decides to rest on the statue’s shoulder. The prince statue then asks the swallow to help him distribute his wealth to the poor and needy in the city. The swallow agrees and starts to help the prince statue by plucking out the jewels and gold from the statue and giving them to the poor. The story is a beautiful tale of selflessness and kindness. It teaches us that true happiness lies in helping others and that material possessions are not the key to happiness. Oscar Wilde’s « The Happy Prince » is a must-read for anyone who wants to experience the true meaning of happiness and kindness.
The Nightingale and the Rose
« The Nightingale and the Rose » is a poignant tale of unrequited love and sacrifice. The story follows a young student who is in love with a beautiful girl, but she demands that he bring her a red rose in order to dance with him at the ball. The student searches high and low for a red rose, but all the flowers in the garden have withered away.
A nightingale overhears the student’s plight and offers to help him by sacrificing her own life to create a red rose. The nightingale pierces her heart on a thorn and her blood flows into the white rose, turning it red. The student is overjoyed and takes the rose to the girl, but she rejects it and dances with another man who has brought her jewels instead.
The nightingale’s sacrifice is in vain, and the student realizes the true nature of love and the cost of desire. Wilde’s story is a beautiful and tragic reminder of the lengths we will go for love, and the harsh reality that sometimes our sacrifices are not enough to win the hearts of those we desire.
The Selfish Giant
« The Selfish Giant » is a heartwarming tale by Oscar Wilde that teaches us the importance of kindness and generosity. The story revolves around a giant who owns a beautiful garden but refuses to share it with the children in the village. One day, the giant realizes that his selfishness has caused eternal winter in his garden, and he decides to open it up to the children. As a result, the garden blooms again, and the giant learns the value of sharing and caring for others. This story is a beautiful reminder that our actions have consequences and that kindness can bring joy and happiness to those around us.
The Remarkable Rocket
« The Remarkable Rocket » is a satirical short story by Oscar Wilde that was first published in 1888. The story follows the adventures of a self-important rocket who believes himself to be the most remarkable rocket in the world. The rocket is set to be launched for a royal wedding, but due to a series of mishaps, he ends up exploding prematurely, much to the disappointment of the crowd.
Wilde uses the character of the rocket to satirize the vanity and self-importance of those in positions of power. The rocket’s obsession with his own importance and his disregard for the feelings of others ultimately leads to his downfall.
« The Remarkable Rocket » is a humorous and entertaining story that showcases Wilde’s wit and clever use of satire. It is a must-read for fans of Wilde’s work and anyone who enjoys a good laugh.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Bien que « The Canterville Ghost » soit l’une des histoires les plus célèbres d’Oscar Wilde, il ne faut pas oublier l’importance de son autre travail, « The Importance of Being Earnest ». Cette pièce de théâtre comique est considérée comme l’un des chefs-d’œuvre de Wilde et est souvent citée comme l’une des pièces les plus drôles jamais écrites en anglais.
« The Importance of Being Earnest » est une satire de la haute société victorienne, se moquant de leur obsession pour les apparences et les conventions sociales. La pièce suit les aventures de deux amis, Jack et Algernon, qui ont tous deux créé des personnages fictifs pour échapper à leurs responsabilités. Cependant, leurs mensonges se retournent contre eux lorsqu’ils tombent amoureux de deux femmes qui insistent pour épouser des hommes nommés « Ernest ».
La pièce est remplie de jeux de mots, de quiproquos et de situations comiques, mais elle aborde également des thèmes plus profonds tels que l’identité, la vérité et l’hypocrisie. Wilde utilise l’humour pour critiquer la société victorienne et ses normes rigides, tout en offrant une réflexion sur la nature humaine et la façon dont nous nous présentons aux autres.
En fin de compte, « The Importance of Being Earnest » est une œuvre intemporelle qui continue de captiver les lecteurs et les spectateurs aujourd’hui. Elle est un rappel de l’importance de la vérité et de l’authenticité, même dans un monde obsédé par les apparences.