Student Question
Why does Sir Simon in "The Canterville Ghost" start to question his existence?
Quick answer:
Sir Simon begins to question his existence due to his inability to frighten the Otis family, which leads to a deep depression. His failure to fulfill his ghostly duties causes a crisis of identity, making him long for eternal rest in the Garden of Death. He expresses his exhaustion to Virginia, saying he has not slept for three hundred years and desires freedom from his ghostly obligations and the Otis family.
In Chapter Five of "The Canterville Ghost," the ghost admits to Virginia that he wants to enjoy eternal rest in the Garden of Death:
"For three hundred years I have not slept, and I am so tired."
The ghost's sudden interest in death is a result of two factors, the first of which is his treatment by the Otis family. Since taking possession of Canterville Chase, the family has thwarted his attempts to frighten them and reduced him to a state of depression, as described in Chapter Four:
His nerves were completely shattered, and he started at the slightest noise.
Secondly, as a result of his depressed mood, the ghost is no longer able to fulfil his supernatural obligations. As the ghost of Canterville Chase, for instance, it is Sir Simon's duty to frighten the family by appearing in the corridor every week and "gibbering" from the window twice each month. Suddenly unable to complete these tasks in earnest, Sir Simon experiences a crisis of identity. In his mind, the only solution to this problem is to die and be permanently freed from the Otis family and his ghostly duties.
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