The Canterville Ghost

Hiram B. Otis

Also known as Mr. Otis · the American Minister · the United States Minister

The American Minister who buys Canterville Chase despite its ghost. He is Virginia’s and Washington’s father.

Lord Canterville

The current owner of Canterville Chase who sells it to Mr. Otis and warns him about the ghost. He later attends Sir Simon’s funeral and recognizes Virginia’s service to his family.

Dowager Duchess of Bolton

Also known as the Dowager Duchess

Lord Canterville’s grandaunt, who was frightened into a fit by the ghost and never fully recovered.

Rev. Augustus Dampier

Also known as the rector of the parish

The parish rector and a Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, who has seen the ghost. He conducts Sir Simon’s funeral service.

Lady Canterville

Lord Canterville’s wife, who often lost sleep because of strange noises in the house.

Mrs. Otis

Also known as Miss Lucretia R. Tappan

Hiram Otis’s wife, formerly a celebrated New York belle. She is Virginia, Washington, and the twins’ mother.

Washington Otis

Also known as Washington

The Otises’ eldest son, a capable dancer who repeatedly removes the ghost’s bloodstain with detergent.

Virginia E. Otis

Also known as Miss Virginia · Virginia

The Otises’ fifteen-year-old daughter, kind and courageous. She helps Sir Simon find peace and later marries Cecil, the Duke of Cheshire.

Lord Bilton

Also known as old Lord Bilton

An elderly lord whom Virginia once beat in a pony race.

Duke of Cheshire

Also known as the young Duke of Cheshire · Cecil

Virginia’s childhood suitor and later husband. He is anxious when she disappears and becomes the young Duke of Cheshire.

Otis twins

Also known as the twins · The Star and Stripes

Virginia’s mischievous younger twin brothers, who repeatedly play pranks on the ghost. The text does not distinguish them individually.

Mrs. Umney

Also known as the housekeeper · the old housekeeper

The longtime housekeeper at Canterville Chase, retained by the Otises. She tells them the history of the ghost and attends Sir Simon’s funeral.

Lady Eleanore de Canterville

Sir Simon’s wife, whom he murdered in 1575; her blood is said to have stained the library floor.

Sir Simon de Canterville

Also known as the Canterville Ghost · the Ghost · Sir Simon

The ghost of Virginia’s ancestor, who haunted Canterville Chase for centuries after murdering his wife and being starved to death by her brothers. Virginia’s compassion and prayers bring him peace.

the Rector’s four housemaids

Also known as the four housemaids

Unidentified former servants whom the ghost frightened into hysterics.

Madame de Tremouillac

Also known as old Madame de Tremouillac

A woman who saw the ghost as a skeleton reading her diary, suffered brain fever, and later reconciled with the Church.

Monsieur de Voltaire

A notorious sceptic with whom Madame de Tremouillac broke off her connection after recovering from brain fever.

the wicked Lord Canterville

An ancestor of the Cantervilles who died choking on the knave of diamonds after confessing that he had cheated Charles James Fox.

Charles James Fox

A man whom the wicked Lord Canterville confessed to cheating out of £50,000 at Crockford’s.

the Canterville butler

Also known as the butler

An unnamed butler who shot himself after seeing a green hand tapping at a window.

Lady Stutfield

Also known as the beautiful Lady Stutfield

A woman whose throat was marked by the ghost’s fingers; she later drowned herself in the carp-pond.

Lord Raker

A lord whose wig was said to have turned grey in one night from the ghost’s demonic laughter.

Sir William Gull

The physician who cared for the parish rector after the ghost frightened him into nervous disorders.

Longfellow

Also known as the poet Longfellow

The American poet whose work the ghost admired and whose natural poetry he hoped would make the Otises appreciate his suit of armour.

the Virgin Queen

The queen who complimented Sir Simon on his armour at the Kenilworth tournament.

Lady Canterville’s French governesses

Also known as the three French governesses

Three unnamed governesses whom the ghost’s laughter drove to give notice before completing a month.

the Otis ghost

Also known as Ye Otis Ghoste · the imitation ghost

A fake spectre made by the twins from household objects to frighten Sir Simon.

the cock

Also known as Chanticleer · the naughty fowl

A rooster whose second crow the ghost awaits after swearing an oath; it never crows again.

Lady Barbara Modish

Also known as pretty Lady Barbara Modish

A woman whom Sir Simon frightened while appearing as the Headless Earl. She broke off her engagement and eloped with Jack Castletown.

the present Lord Canterville’s grandfather

An unnamed ancestor of the current Lord Canterville who was engaged to Lady Barbara Modish before she broke it off.

Jack Castletown

Also known as handsome Jack Castletown

Lady Barbara Modish’s lover, with whom she eloped; he was later killed in a duel by Lord Canterville.

Lord Canterville who killed Jack Castletown

An unnamed Lord Canterville who shot Jack Castletown in a duel on Wandsworth Common.

Lord Rufford

A neighbour whose quarrel with the Cantervilles was said to have originated with Sir Simon’s impersonation as a corpse-snatcher.

Lord Francis Stilton

The young Duke of Cheshire’s grand-uncle, who once bet he could play dice with Sir Simon and was left unable to speak except to say “Double Sixes.”

Colonel Carbury

The man who bet Lord Francis Stilton that he would not play dice with the Canterville ghost.

Lord Tattle

The author, within the story, of a volume of recollections said to contain an account of Lord Francis Stilton’s encounter with the ghost.

Sieur de Bulkeley

The man whom Sir Simon’s first cousin married as her second husband; the Dukes of Cheshire are said to descend from him.

Sir Simon’s first cousin

An unnamed cousin of Sir Simon who married the Sieur de Bulkeley as her second husband.

Lady Startup

Also known as old Lady Startup

A woman whose encounter with the ghost’s Vampire Monk impersonation caused apoplexy and death; she disinherited the Cantervilles.

the London apothecary

An unnamed apothecary to whom Lady Startup left her money instead of to the Cantervilles.

the Marchioness of Dumbleton

Also known as the old Marchioness of Dumbleton

A noblewoman who tried to arrange a match between the Duke of Cheshire and one of her seven unmarried daughters.

Miss Fanny Devonport

Also known as Fanny Devonport

An actress whom the Otis family discuss as superior to Sarah Bernhardt.

Sarah Bernhardt

An actress whom the Otis family compare unfavourably with Fanny Devonport.

Myers

One of the recipients of Washington’s planned letter about persistent bloodstains connected with crime.

Podmore

One of the recipients of Washington’s planned letter about persistent bloodstains connected with crime.

the young Duke’s mother

Also known as the Duchess of Cheshire

Virginia’s mother-in-law, referred to as the Duchess of Cheshire after Virginia’s marriage.