Book Review of Novel-the Canterville Ghost - 2684 Words

Book Review of THE CANTERVILLE GHOST * About the Author Oscar Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of Londons most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. Today he is remembered for his epigrams and plays, and the circumstances of his imprisonment which was followed by his early death. Wildes parents were successful Anglo-Irish Dublin intellectuals. Their son became fluent in French and German early in life. At university Wilde read Greats; he proved himself to be an outstanding classicist, first at Dublin, then at Oxford. He became known for his involvement in the rising philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After†¦show more content†¦Wilde obviously intends to satirize American materialism, but he pokes fun at English traditional culture as well. American vs. British society: â€Å"The Canterville Ghost† is a study in contrasts. Wilde takes an American family, places them in a British setting, then, through a series of mishaps, pits one culture against the other. He creates stereotypical characters that represent both England and the United States, and he presents each of these characters as comical figures, satirizing both the unrefined tastes of Americans and the determination of the British to guard their traditions. Sir Simon is not a symbol of England, as perhaps Mrs. Umney is, but rather a paragon of British culture. In this sense, he stands in perfect contrast to the Otis family. Sir Simon misunderstands the Otis family just as they misunderstand him, and, by pitting them against each other, Wilde clearly wishes to emphasize the culture clash between England and the United States. * The historical background and its connection to the story During the nineteenth century the 2nd Industrial Revolution was developed, which produced an accelerated technology out of new products and industries. There was also a technological breakthrough. This caused a great rivalry between the countries regarding the economy and politics, especially between The United States and England, who were the two world powers at that time. Oscar Wilde relates thisShow MoreRelatedOscar Wilde s Life And Accomplishments1949 Words   |  8 Pagespersonality alone that made Wilde infamous. He was an author with amazing talents. He created entire worlds with his work. He was exceptionally creative, death, he wrote published many works. Some of his more popular being A House of Pomegranates, The Canterville Ghost, and A Woman Of No Importance. He also wrote poems and essays such as Athanasia, La Bella Donna Della Mia Mente, The Sphinx, The Decay Of Lying, and The Soul of A Man Under Socialism. These are among the stories and plays that made Wilde a legend