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Virginia E. Otis
Known informally as the Star and Stripes, the twins are the youngest children of Mr. and Mrs. Otis and brothers to Washington and Virginia Otis. While we never learn their actual names, their joint nickname has two meanings—on one hand it refers to the Otis parents’ patriotic impulses in naming their children. On the other, we’re told, the twin’s nickname refers to the fact that the twins get in trouble a lot, which their parents correct by spanking (a “stripe” can also mean a blow delivered by hand). The twins’ behavior throughout The Canterville Ghost certainly proves this to be true. They quickly terrorize Sir Simon, accosting him with pillows and toys guns, and devising traps to ensnare or even injure him. At first, the ghost wants only to pay them back for this. However, as their relentless pursuit of him continues, Sir Simon eventually becomes too afraid of the twins to even imagine revenge. He only wants to avoid them at all costs. Interestingly, the twins are never referred to singularly and always appear together. They are the first to notice that the almond tree has flowered at the end of the story.
The Otis Twins Quotes in The Canterville Ghost
The The Canterville Ghost quotes below are all either spoken by The Otis Twins or refer to The Otis Twins. 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:
).
Chapter 3
Quotes
I have no wish […] to do the ghost any personal injury, and I must say that, considering the length of time he has been in the house, I don’t think it is at all polite to throw pillows at him[…] [u]pon the other hand […] if he really does decline to use the Rising Sun Lubricator, we shall have to take his chains from him.
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Chapter 4
Quotes
He now gave up all hope of ever frightening this rude American family, and contented himself, as a rule, with creeping about the passages in list slippers, with a thick red muffler round his throat for fear of draughts, and a small arquebuse, in case he should be attacked by the twins.
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Chapter 5
Quotes
"I don't think I should like America."
"I suppose because we have no ruins and no curiosities,"
said Virginia, satirically.
"No ruins no curiosities!" answered the Ghost; "you have
your navy and your manners."
"Good evening; I will go and ask papa to get the twins an extra week's holiday."
"Please don't go, Miss Virginia," he cried; “I am so lonely and so unhappy, and I really don't know what to do. I want to go to sleep and I cannot."
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Chapter 6
Quotes
“Hallo!” suddenly exclaimed one of the twins, who had been looking out of the window to try and discover in what wing of the house the room was situated. “Hallo! The old withered almond-tree has blossomed. I can see the flowers quite plainly in the moonlight.”
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The Otis Twins Quotes in The Canterville Ghost
The The Canterville Ghost quotes below are all either spoken by The Otis Twins or refer to The Otis Twins. 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:
).
Chapter 3
Quotes
I have no wish […] to do the ghost any personal injury, and I must say that, considering the length of time he has been in the house, I don’t think it is at all polite to throw pillows at him[…] [u]pon the other hand […] if he really does decline to use the Rising Sun Lubricator, we shall have to take his chains from him.
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Chapter 4
Quotes
He now gave up all hope of ever frightening this rude American family, and contented himself, as a rule, with creeping about the passages in list slippers, with a thick red muffler round his throat for fear of draughts, and a small arquebuse, in case he should be attacked by the twins.
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Chapter 5
Quotes
"I don't think I should like America."
"I suppose because we have no ruins and no curiosities,"
said Virginia, satirically.
"No ruins no curiosities!" answered the Ghost; "you have
your navy and your manners."
"Good evening; I will go and ask papa to get the twins an extra week's holiday."
"Please don't go, Miss Virginia," he cried; “I am so lonely and so unhappy, and I really don't know what to do. I want to go to sleep and I cannot."
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Chapter 6
Quotes
“Hallo!” suddenly exclaimed one of the twins, who had been looking out of the window to try and discover in what wing of the house the room was situated. “Hallo! The old withered almond-tree has blossomed. I can see the flowers quite plainly in the moonlight.”
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