Mrs. Lucretia R. Otis Character Analysis in The Canterville Ghost

Mrs. Otis, born Miss Lucretia R. Tappan, was considered a “celebrated belle” back in New York City. Now in middle age, Mrs. Otis is the wife of Mr. Otis and mother to Washington, Virginia, and the Otis twins. Though American by birth, Mrs. Otis has taken quite well to life in England. She truly is English in many of her behaviors and mannerisms, “an excellent example of the fact that [the English] have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.” Mrs. Otis appears only briefly throughout The Canterville Ghost and always in tandem with Mr. Otis. In her single interaction with Sir Simon, Mrs. Otis offers the ghost stomach medicine, mistaking his demoniacal laughter for indigestion.

Mrs. Lucretia R. Otis Quotes in The Canterville Ghost

The The Canterville Ghost quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Lucretia R. Otis or refer to Mrs. Lucretia R. Otis. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

The British Aristocracy vs. American Vulgarity Theme Icon

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Indeed, in many respects, she was quite English, and was an excellent example of the fact that we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.

Related Characters: Mrs. Lucretia R. Otis

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation: 8-11

Explanation and Analysis:

Mrs. Lucretia R. Otis Character Timeline in The Canterville Ghost

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Lucretia R. Otis appears in The Canterville Ghost. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Appearance, Reality, and Sincerity Theme Icon

At the end of the season, the Otis family moves into the home, including Mrs. Otis , the couple’s oldest son Washington, their daughter Miss Virginia E. Otis, and the twins,... (full context)

The narrator describes the family, painting Mrs. Otis as a middle-aged woman who is at once attractive and vivacious. She’s filled with “a... (full context)

Mr. and Mrs. Otis hold a serious conversation about how to deal with a fainting housekeeper. Mr. Otis suggests... (full context)

...to wonder if he was too quick to dismiss Lord Canterville’s warnings about a ghost. Mrs. Otis ponders joining a spiritualist society and Washington writes two long, academic letters on the topic... (full context)

...laugh (which is described as “demoniacal”) on the family. The only response, however, is from Mrs. Otis , who is afraid that the ghost isn’t feeling well and offers him a bottle... (full context)

Once he’s done with Washington, Sir Simon plans to scare Mr. and Mrs. Otis by touching them with his ghostly hands and whispering to them secrets from the “charnel... (full context)

...life normally. Mr. Otis resumes writing a book on the history of the Democratic party. Mrs. Otis organizes a clam bake. Washington and the twins play card games, and Virginia rides her... (full context)

Mr. and Mrs. Otis are quick to notice Virginia’s absence and they instantly raise a cry of alarm when... (full context)