If he really declines to use the Rising Sun Lubricator, we shall have to take his chains for him. It would be quite impossible to sleep, with such a noise going on outside the bedrooms.
Mr. Otis speaks these lines shortly after the existence of the ghost is confirmed by him clanking his chains around and appearing in the hallway. Mr. Otis is not at all frightened by the ghost, but he is annoyed by the loud noise disrupting his sleep; so, he comes up with the very practical solution of the Ghost oiling his chains so that he will not create so much noise. The lack of fear and practical solution reflect the pragmatic disposition of Mr. Otis, and the Otis family in general. They are not frightened or impressed, even by very unusual and striking events.
I come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy; and with all our spry young fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your best actors and prima-donnas, I reckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'd have it at home in a very short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as a show.
Mr. Otis speaks these lines to Lord Canterville when he explains why he does not believe in ghosts. Mr. Otis comically describes the relationship between Americans and Europe: at this time, it was common for wealthy Americans to spend time in Europe, where they often traveled extensively and purchased art and artifacts to bring back to America. They were also often patrons of art and culture since they had money, and they liked to create the impression of having sophisticated taste. Mr. Otis refers to a ghost as simply another sort of European luxury import, and assumes that it would be one more thing for Americans to purchase and show off.
It is absurd asking me to behave myself. I must rattle my chains, and groan through keyholes, and walk about at night, if that is what you mean. It is my only reason for existing.
The ghost speaks these lines, annoyed at the suggestion that he could try to behave in less obtrusive ways so that he would not disrupt the Otis family so much. He clings to his way of life because it is all he knows, and because he knows there would be no other role for him in the modern world. He believes he has a solemn obligation to keep up appearances and expectations. These lines foreshadow the fact that by the end of the story, the ghost will have realized that it is time for him to give up his way of life; fortunately, he is able to exchange his ghostly ways for peaceful eternal rest.
With the enthusiastic egotism of the true artist he went over his most celebrated performances.
The narrator makes this sly comment while describing how the ghost falls into a reverie, remembering all the times where he has frightened people in the past. These lines explicitly present the ghost as an artist-figure: he takes pride in his skill and the effect it has on his audience. The narrator suggests that most creative individuals take pride in their skill and success, and that if they did not receive praise and recognition, it would be painful for them. This challenges the idea of artists creating solely for the pleasure of creation, and acknowledges the role that publicity and fame can play in the creative impulse.
With regard to little Virginia, he had not quite made up his mind. She had never insulted him in any way, and was pretty and gentle.
These lines reflect the G\ghost's train of thought as he prepares to make his most dramatic attempt at frightening the family. He has carefully planned specific ways to terrify all of the other family members, but he is unsure how to behave towards Virginia. The ghost's hesitation about trying to frighten the young girl stems in part from a recognition that she has not tried to injure or upset him, and therefore it would be unjust to target her. He also shows a more aesthetic appreciation based not on Virginia's behavior but on her demeanor and appearance. These lines foreshadow that the ghost is already fond of Virginia and that the two of them will have further interactions later in the story.
Never having seen a ghost before, he naturally was terribly frightened.
These lines refer to the ghost's reaction when he confronts the fake ghost the twins have set up to trick him. The lines are very ironic and comical: the Canterville Ghost takes great pride in his ability to frighten others, but he naively falls for an attempt to scare him. While the human family is not afraid of a real ghost, a ghost is afraid of a fake one. This reaction suggests that the Canterville Ghost is actually quite delicate and high-strung: he becomes emotional and anxious quite easily, and he does not share the down-to-earth attitude of the Otis family.
Raising his withered hands high above his head, [he] swore, according to the picturesque phraseology of the antique school, that when Chanticleer had sounded twice his merry horn, deeds of blood would be wrought, and Murder walk abroad with silent feet.
These lines describe the furious reaction of the ghost when he realizes that he has been tricked and embarrassed. The language here parodies an older and more ornate style of writing, as well as the Gothic conventions that the story parodies. The ghost uses a traditional timeline for vowing revenge: before the cock crows. He expresses this in even more complicated language, by using the name Chanticleer, which was a medieval term for a rooster, and then poetically describing his plan with the imagery of Murder personified as a figure walking around. This dramatic and poetic language shows that the ghost is out of touch with the modern world. It is also his attempt to elevate events back into the world of drama and high art, where he thrives. The fake ghost threatens to evoke the reality that there is nothing dramatic or supernatural left in the modern world, and the ghost now has to try to desperately sustain the tone where his performances made sense and appealed to an audience.
Poor Sir Simon! I owe him a great deal. Yes, don't laugh, Cecil, I really do. He made me see what Life is, and what Death signifies, and why Love is stronger than both.
Virginia speaks these lines near the end of the story, after she is married to the Duke of Cheshire. Her husband has been teasing her about the fact that she has never explained what happened during the hours she was missing with the ghost. Although Virginia refuses to give any details, she implies that she was transformed by her experience and became much wiser as a result. She now knows what is truly important, and that she is no longer the innocent and childish figure she was at the start of the story. Virginia's refusal to fully explain what happened to her creates a sense of mystery in the story and also reflects a feeling of intimacy she shared with the ghost.
As for colour, that is always a matter of taste: the Cantervilles have blue blood, for instance, the very bluest in England; but I know you Americans don't care for things of this kind.
These lines reflect a sly, witty joke that Wilde makes. When Virginia confronts the ghost about using her paints to recreate the bloodstain every day, he comments on the idea that blood can be different colors. "Blue blood" has long been a term used to refer to individuals from noble or aristocratic families; the ghost makes a joke when he states that the Cantervilles have blue blood, acknowledging the status and heritage of this family. In contrast, Americans had the reputation for rejecting the idea of a hereditary nobility in favor of a society where anyone could become wealthy through hard work and social mobility. Therefore, the ghost implies that Americans are disinterested in whether or not someone comes from a well-known family.
That you must weep with me for my sins, because I have no tears, and pray with me for my soul, because I have no faith, and then, if you have always been sweet, and good, and gentle, the Angel of Death will have mercy on me.
The ghost speaks these lines as he urges Virginia to help him. He cannot intercede for himself because his past crimes have robbed him of the qualities required for mercy. However, Virginia is still innocent, young, and pure, and therefore if she intercedes on his behalf, he might be forgiven and redeemed. These lines suggest that Virginia is actually a very powerful character in the story: she possesses a power that no one else seems to hold, and the Ghost's fate rests in her hand. The idea that Virginia might be able to redeem the Ghost through her goodness picks up on themes of feminine goodness and virtue being capable of absolving masculine guilt for past crimes and misdeeds; this theme was relatively common in Victorian literature.
