The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton, by Edith Wharton

[Brian E]

Connie wrote: "she presents such different types of ghosts.."

That's right! I hadn't noticed the variety, but now I wonder how many types of ghosts there are.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Brian wrote: "Sara, I wrote my comment while you were posting yours, I'm not revising it even though I have mainly similar comments, absent the social class insights, but probably enjoyed it slightly less than y..."

Nice to know we experienced this one very much the same. I'm glad you didn't change your comments.

Nice observation, Connie. It will be interesting to see if she can keep up the variety going forward.

[Annette]

I'm late to the party discussing The Lady's Maid's Bell; I do most of my Goodreads group following on my phone where the spoilers are not accessible. I agree with many of the comments made by others but especially those made by Connie.

[Terris]

I agree with both Sarah and Brian, and I really like Connie's take on the various types of ghosts. It was interesting to me that they truly thought they wanted a house with a ghost -- well, they got one!
This was a good one!

And, will you please let me know which story is next? For some reason my Hoopla book has some different stories than some on your list above (is that a complete list?). So, thank you very much for the links to some of the stories, because my book doesn't have all of those (but does include some different ones!). Thanks!

[Sara, New School Classics]

The remaining stories in order are:
Kerfol
The Triumph of Night
Miss Mary Pask
Bewitched
Mr. Jones
Pomegranate Seed
The Looking Glass
All Souls'

I noticed there are several different volumes of her ghost stories...she must have written a huge number of them. Hope you have all of these in your volume.

[Sara, New School Classics]

BTW, I am laughing at "they truly thought they wanted a house with a ghost -- well, they got one!"

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "BTW, I am laughing at "they truly thought they wanted a house with a ghost -- well, they got one!""

;)

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "The remaining stories in order are:
Kerfol
The Triumph of Night
Miss Mary Pask
Bewitched
Mr. Jones
Pomegranate Seed
The Looking Glass
All Souls'

I noticed there are several different volumes of he..."

Thanks for the list! No, my book doesn't have all those, but between my book and your links I do have them all. So I'm all set! Thanks :)

[Kathleen]

I was very intrigued by The Eyes, and pretty much followed your thinking, Brian and Sara. Great and helpful insights from both of you! The end had me a bit stumped, and I had to read it over a few times--there is some interesting staging in this story, as with the mirror in the end.

What I liked best though is what I always like best with Wharton--her figurative language. Some examples I'll put in spoilers, just in case:

(view spoiler)[ "His mind was like a forum, or some open meeting-place for the exchange of ideas: somewhat cold and draughty, but light, spacious and orderly--a kind of academic grove from which all the leaves had fallen."

"the eyes themselves, small glassy disks with an agate-like rim about the pupils, looked like sea-pebbles in the grip of a starfish." (hide spoiler)]

[Brian E]

STORY #4 KERFOL
Brian wrote: "Connie wrote: "she presents such different types of ghosts.."
That's right! I hadn't noticed the variety, but now I wonder how many types of ghosts there are."

(view spoiler)[Based on Connie's observation, I had certain expectations for this story; would Wharton come up with a new type of ghost or just a slight variation of a previous one. I was pleasantly surprised that Wharton exceeded my expectations - I hadn't considered an animal ghost!
I also enjoyed the farirytale/folktale tone of this story. This tone reminded me of the stories in Hardy's A Group of Noble Dames that I read last year; stories from the 17th or 18th century that have been passed down through the years. Wharton just adds a supernatural element to her folktale. She also knows to write a story so satisfying to the many animal lovers who are her readers. Well done. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, New School Classics]

Kathleen wrote: "I was very intrigued by The Eyes, and pretty much followed your thinking, Brian and Sara. Great and helpful insights from both of you! The end had me a bit stumped, and I had to read..."

Totally agree about Wharton's use of language. I had marked the first quote you used as well. Trips off the tongue and gives you a vivid image, does it not?

[Connie]

I agree with Brian that Kerfol has the feeling of a folktale. (view spoiler)[ The ending reminded me of Jane Eyre with the madwoman in the attic. Locking a woman up in the attic seemed to be the thing to do if she didn't fit the obedient little woman mold, or was emotionally upset.

Her lover joined an order of priests (Jansenism movement) that believed in predestination. Is Wharton telling us that we have no control over things that happen, including the actions of the dogs?

Great story! (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, New School Classics]

Really loved this one (view spoiler)[The Revenge of the Dogs. I love the idea that they came back to protect her, loyalty to the mistress, but her fate was sealed the day she married this man. We are told, via our narrator having seen the dogs himself, that her story is true, no chance that she is hallucinating or fabricating or insane.

The opening reminded me of Rebecca...the description of the avenue and the approach to the house. Has that same eerie feeling. I also like your parallel to Jane Eyre, Connie, and the fulfilment of your prediction that every ghost will be of a different variety. (hide spoiler)]

[Brian E]

#5 THE TRIUMPH OF NIGHT
A few comments: (view spoiler)[
1) This type of ghost I’ll call the “inner-self ghost” which is kind of similar to the conscience ghost of The Eyes. In this story, the ghost the hero Faxon sees is the internal evil inner self of Lavington’s outwardly congenial self. This inner-self ghost serves as a warning ghost to Faxon, the chosen observer.
2) Faxon runs from rather than acts on the warning given by this ghost so he, literally, has Rainer’s blood on his hands;
3) It appears Wharton omits telling us everything that Faxon observes as we wonder a bit at what exactly Faxon sees the ghost do;
4) The ending explains most of what happens, but Wharton leaves the reader to fill in some blanks. While I do not usually mind this, I did feel somewhat dissatisfied at the end of the read.
Overall, it was an atmospheric, well-drawn but not entirely satisfying read in an Ethan Frome-like setting. Even though this wasn’t completely satisfying, I still much enjoyed this story. (hide spoiler)] I am liking all these stories more than I thought I would.
I am now writing my comments in Word and in the future will wait to post them until after Sara opens the discussion for each story.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Oh, no, Brian. You should keep posting just as you have. I am not in charge here. lol. You and I seem to be reading at pretty much the same pace. I like the way you have termed this ghost the "inner-self". I was thinking (view spoiler)[of this ghost as pretty much the premonition ghost. Faxon sees him because he senses that something is not right, or as it seems. Felt sorry for the nephew, who believes the Uncle is interested in his welfare, but who is systematically being killed by him by keeping him in this raw climate and then sending him out into it repeatedly.

I also went back and reread to see if I had missed some hint as to what Faxon saw, but alas there was none. I did notice that the facial expression of malice transferred itself in the end from the ghost's face to the actual Uncle's face. Of course, Faxon running is what brings on the death immediately. It is this exposure to the elements that is the last one the nephew's body can endure. The image of him there with the blood on his hands was unmistakable.

I find it interesting that we are now given one more type of ghost. It is the ghost of the living man and not the dead one. (hide spoiler)]

I am also enjoying these stories and one a day is a great way to savor them. Wharton is so good with description. I have felt myself transported into the places and can see them in my mind's eye. Of course, the illustrations in my edition of this book are a delight.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "Really loved this one The Revenge of the Dogs. I love the idea that they came back to protect her, loyalty to the mistress, but her fate was sealed the day she married this man. We are told, via ou..."

I really enjoyed "Kerfol"! I enjoyed the way she told this one.
Sara, the beginning, walking up the lane under the tree arches and the mysteriousness of getting to the house did remind me of "Rebecca." And the fact that the dogs did not bark or bother him made it even more mysterious.
I liked your comments, Brian and Connie. It is true for me also, I had not thought of animal ghosts before!
Looking forward to the next story -- I'd better start reading :)

[Connie]

The Triumph of Night
Excellent observations, Brian and Sara. (view spoiler)[ I felt sorry that George Faxon was left feeling so guilty, and had a breakdown at the end of the story. He was put in a situation where he had no idea what was happening, and was very fearful. It's like walking into a movie when it's half over, and not knowing anything about the characters and the circumstances and trying to figure it all out. George Faxon was seeing the uncle's true inner emotions, but didn't know what he had planned.

The warning by the ghost backfired because George would never have run out in the snow (with Frank following him) if he hadn't been so scared. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, New School Classics]

Connie: (view spoiler)[Do you think the ghost was trying to warn Faxon? I wondered about that, since it was the evil side of the Uncle showing was it a warning or just a revelation? It certainly did backfire on poor Frank, instead of saving him it hastened his death. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, New School Classics]

Terris wrote: "I really enjoyed "Kerfol"! I enjoyed the way she told this one."

She got the atmosphere just right in Kerfol, didn't she? And the way she introduced the dogs one at a time. I love dogs, but being surrounded like that by unfamiliar ones would have made me super nervous.

[Connie]

Sara wrote: "Connie: [spoilers removed]"

Interesting question about whether the ghost in "The Triumph of Night" was a warning or a revelation. (view spoiler)[ It could be a revelation, but only to George, since the uncle is not seeing his own conscience or evil nature. On the other hand, showing the uncle's real nature could be a warning from the supernatural that the uncle was not to be trusted when he was discussing things regarding his nephew's will or health.

Since George felt so guilty later, I think he regarded it as a warning that he ignored or did not understand. Frank had helped him when he was stranded at the train station, but George had done nothing to help Frank when he needed help. Instead, his actions brought on Frank's death sooner. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, New School Classics]

Yes, George certainly (view spoiler)[viewed it as a warning that he ignored. Your explanation is the right one. (hide spoiler)] Thank you.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "Yes, George certainly [spoilers removed] Thank you."

This one was interesting and I'm glad to read your discussions here. I did not quite understand who the ghost was. But yours and Connie's explanations make sense to me. But why was George the only one who could see him? And it really seemed like George was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing he did helped Frank, and maybe even accelerated his demise.
This one had a lot of questions for me, but I didn't really care. I still liked it. I liked the descriptions of the house and the flowers, and I could almost feel the snow and the cold!
(Please let me know how to "view spoiler/hide spoiler." I may be spilling the beans for someone, but I don't know how to do that!)
Thanks!

[Terris]

Brian wrote: "#5 THE TRIUMPH OF NIGHT
A few comments:
1) This type of ghost I’ll call the “inner-self ghost” which is kind of similar to the conscience ghost of The Eyes. In this story, the ghost the hero Faxon..."

Thanks, Brian. I like your explanations, and that's kind of how I felt in the end also!

[Cynda]

Sara, I too liked the atmosphere in Kerfol. Castles right now are reminding me of The Mysteries of Udolpho.

Find interesting the motif of the lonely wife whose loving companions/animals are killed. Killed dogs in Kerfol published in 1916. Killed songbird in A Jury Of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell published in 1917 (possibly written 1916). What was happening in the early 20th century two stories have same motif written in the same period just prior to WWI.

Good point Brian and Connie. The repeated motif of killed loving/beloved animal may very well be a folktale element.

[Cynda]

Afterward reminds me of local folktales. Good expansion/re-imagining. Does Afterward remind others of folktales of their towns/regions?

[Cynda]

I am not crazy about The Triumph of Night for reasons similar to what others have said. This selection I do not much like is a shorter story, so not too too much time spent on it.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "Yes, George certainly [spoilers removed] Thank you."

This one was interesting and I'm glad to read your discussions here. I did not quite understand who the ghost was. But yours and C..."

One of the elements Wharton seems to like to use in her ghost stories is unresolved mystery. Why George? (view spoiler)[I suppose because he is the one person there who is a stranger and might view the Uncle without being fooled by his mask of kindness and hospitality and act in Frank's behalf...although, what could he do? The other two men are encouraging Frank to leave and do as the doctor has advised, why would George be a greater influence? (hide spoiler)]

We might just be asked to accept the nebulous quality of the story and love it for its atmosphere and elements--which we do!

Spoilers are easy, Terri. Type < spoiler > but leave NO spaces. Then type your comment. Then type < / spoiler > again WITHOUT the spaces.

[Terris]

Sara wrote: "Terris wrote: "Sara wrote: "Yes, George certainly [spoilers removed] Thank you."

This one was interesting and I'm glad to read your discussions here. I did not quite understand who the ghost was. ..."

I agree with your comments!
And, thanks for the "spoiler" instructions. You make it look easy. I'll try it next time :)

[Connie]

MISS MARY PASK

This story was very atmospheric and Gothic (view spoiler)[ with the journey in the heavy fog, the dark house, and the candles blowing out. Mary's pale complexion and her baggy white clothes created a ghost-like presence. Wharton is writing about a live person who looks like a ghost.

The male visitor seemed like an unreliable narrator. He was sickly, and had been recently recuperating from a fever. His memory was impaired since he forgot that Mary had been reported dead until he was inside the house. Then he panicked!

Mary was not well after a catatonic event, felt sensitive to light, and felt terribly lonely. Her superstitious neighbors were avoiding her, thinking she had returned from the dead (catatonia). I'm not sure what scared the man the most--that Mary might be a ghost, or that this previously prim and proper spinster may have been trying to seduce him.

I liked most of the story, but the ending seemed to just trail off. (hide spoiler)]

[Terris]

Connie wrote: "MISS MARY PASK

This story was very atmospheric and Gothic with the journey in the heavy fog, the dark house, and the candles blowing out. Mary's pale complexion and her baggy white clothes create..."

I agree, I liked it also but.... (view spoiler)[ it seemed like Wharton was trying to use some surprise tactics, like when the narrator goes to all the trouble to find Mary's house, in the middle of nowhere, at night (I couldn't quite figure out why he thought visiting an old lady at night without notifying her was a good idea), and then on the doorstep think "Oh yeah, I forgot, she's dead!" And at the end for the friend to blurt out "Don't you read the papers? She's not dead!"
But it was still kind of confusing to me, so, Connie, I'm glad that you pointed out that the lady was not dead, but just looked like a ghost. That was a new take on a ghost story!
And, yes, I also thought it ended weakly, but the descriptions are always so beautiful I just like to think about being in the places that Wharton describes and that makes it worth the read! (hide spoiler)]

[Terris]

Look, I did the spoiler thing! ;)

[Connie]

Perfect on the spoilers, Terris! If you click on "some html is ok" on the upper right of the comment box, it will also show you how to use bold, italics, etc.

[Terris]

Connie wrote: "Perfect on the spoilers, Terris! If you click on "some html is ok" on the upper right of the comment box, it will also show you how to use bold, italics, etc."

Thanks! I know how to do those things, but I didn't know what the "some html is ok" box meant. There are some things there that I didn't know how to do! Learning all the time! ;)

[Brian E]

#6 MISS MARY PASK
(view spoiler)[ A talking living human ghost. Definitely a new type. During the middle of the story I was thinking that this was the first talking ghost, although technically, the ghost dogs may have been speaking in their own language. The end twist, making Mary a non-ghost did not detract from the story to me, but made it more of a character study of both Mary and the narrator.
It is slightly ambiguous whether Mary thought she was dead. In looking back at Mary’s words, mostly she refers to herself having died or to “the news of her death; true statements according to the medical determination at the time. However, Mary also makes statements such as, referring to darkness, “the dead…naturally get used to it.” She refers to herself saying to that she once thought “’You couldn’t be lonelier if you were dead.’But I know better now.” My assumption is Mary’s ‘death’ greatly affected her attitude toward living but she knows she is alive and assumes the narrator knows too. That's why she made her move. As to Connie's question, I think the narrator would have stayed if he perceived an attractive ghost rather than an aging spinster; I'd have been frightened off too.
Although its not one of the best, it's another fine atmospheric story, the middle one of the 11 in this collection. (hide spoiler)]

[Cynda]

Miss Mary Pask

Sure there is the sexual element that could scare many: (view spoiler)[being approached by a ghost can scare some, always has something of an edge to it. I am thinking of a variety of tv shows, movies, sometimes based on stories.

The narrator finds Mary Pask doubly unattractive because he fears ghosts and finds unattractive older women.

The element of the narrator's on-going medical problem that presents as a fever affects his perceptions and abilities. He did forget and then remember that he understood Mary Pask to be dead. Had the narrator been healthier he would have had a different experiemce visiting Mary Pask. He still may have declined her personal services. (hide spoiler)]

[Cynda]

Romances with Ghosts. We seem to have some fascination. We have a variety of television shows and popular movies where the living have romances or encounters with ghosts.
Television show based on novella: The Ghost amd Mrs Muir.
Movies: Ghost, Heaven Can Wait, others.

[Cynda]

Bewitched
Sounds like a reluctance to do what is necessary to ending the bewitchment. (view spoiler)[Neighborly compassion for a bereaved father gets in the way of protecting anither community member. Hope that now that sisterly companionship is available to Ora that Ora will no longer seek out her beloved sweetheart (hide spoiler)] Wishful thinking?

[Sara, New School Classics]

Mary Pask: (view spoiler)[ I believe Mary's life has changed so much since she was ruled dead, because others now avoid her, that she feels as if she had died and not been allowed to be alive afterward. She is so happy to have the company of this person who calls upon her, but fails to realize that he is taking the "dead" part of this very seriously. I felt so sorry for her as he rushed out into the night and away from her. That must have made things much worse.

It is an interesting idea, Brian, that Mary might actually think herself that she is dead. But, each of her references could be seen as merely making light of her situation, trying to joke or be flirtatious, provided the other person actually knows that she is alive. Of course, her presence in the room would seem to her to testify that she is alive.

I agree that the fever in the visitor accounts for his own inability to set aside his fear and come to the logical conclusion that this woman is flesh and that some mistake has been made, either in his mind or in the telegram. After all, that is what I would be thinking, especially after having had this "lapse" of memory that landed him at her door in the first place.

So, in this story we have the perceived ghost rather than the real one. (hide spoiler)]

Which seques right into

Bewitched (view spoiler)[a tale of superstitions. More than any of the other stories, this one begs the question of reality for me. All the characters here, with the exception of Bosworth, are steeped in the beliefs of witchcraft and vampirism and more open to believing the occult explanation than any less sinister one.

There are the sexual overtones as well. The feminine mystic that hovers around Ora and her sister and the idea that a man can be possessed by a woman and drawn to her against his will. Sexuality was frequently the basis for labeling a woman a witch, and the sexuality of both these girls is alluded to.

There is also the power of suggestion. Ora tells Rutledge that she will come for him after she is gone. That alone would account for his belief that he can still see and meet with her. It takes nothing more than footprints in the snow to bring the other two men, one of which is a Deacon, into believing in this spirit.

Brand shoots "the spirit" and comes out of the hut with the sun on his face looking like "blood". Does anyone else think this parallels just a bit too much with Venny's death. Was Venny, the living girl, the wraith in question and has Brand now killed his living daughter? Has anyone, besides me, never thought a revolver would be of little use against a spirit? (hide spoiler)]

I really liked this story. It left me with a lot to ponder regarding the nature of human thinking. I have recently read The Heretic's Daughter, a marvelous book about the Salem Witch Trials, and it makes me more inclined to think about what people can convince themselves of against all reason.

[Brian E]

#7 BEWITCHED
(view spoiler)[ This one has great atmosphere, which I call her Ethan Frome-type setting (which for some reason I always mentally place in New Hampshire rather than Mass. More fitting for bleakness and granite?) However, there was the holding back of facts and then something happens that ended up confusing me. My initial thought was that this was a straightforward story with a possible succubus/vampire/witch ghost in the sexually repressed society. But then I thought why the reveal of Venny dying at the end right after the unexplained shooting by the pond? It must mean something. Of course, it could just be that Brand’s dominance drives all his women to death. Or is that Wharton means that it wasn’t a ghost but actually Venny that was meeting with Rutledge. The pneumonia is just a story to explain Brand shooting her. The story says, “ The Deacon’s been there.” The Deacon, as a witness to the shooting, has reason to involve himself in a coverup. Of course, that leaves one wonder why Venny would be barefoot and leave light footsteps. EDIT: Terris clarifies that in a later post
I see that Sara had the same thoughts, Brief research didn’t provide clear answers so I’m left a bit confused on what to think. But Wharton is often intentionally ambiguous so I’ll accept my confusion and move on to the next story. The other thing I felt unsure of was the timeframe. One review described it as follows: “In her short story Bewitched, Edith Wharton lures you into the ghostly heart of New England, circa 1926.” To me, the story appears to be sometime in the 19th century. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara, New School Classics]

Odd, I also had this set in the 19th Century in my mind, Brian. I'm not sure the time period is actually specified in the story. I suppose there would be areas where the 19th and early 20th centuries would not look that different. I definitely (view spoiler)[went for the conclusion that Venny was the one at the meetings and that her father shot her. I think it would be likely that the true story would not be the one the men would wish to tell...pneumonia suits their purposes better. Also, earlier in the tale "She (Ora) was away for three years, during which Venny ran wild on the slopes of Lonetop..." So, this is the area in which Venny is known to "run wild". If she didn't die from the gunshot, pneumonia would make sense for someone running around in the snow barefoot.

Since Brand had not wanted his older daughter, Ora, to be married to Rutledge, I'm not thinking he would smile very easily at the idea of Rutledge, now married, bedding his younger. (hide spoiler)]

[Cynda]

Then I wonder about the respiratory problems in "Bewitched". Yes respiratory problems are commonplace in New England. But their being repeated in three people--Ora, his sister, and Rutledge--tell me that the respiratory problems very probably inform the story. I just haven't figured out how.

[Terris]

I so enjoy reading all of your comments! They help me to put the story together in my mind, since so much of it is left unexplained.
I totally agree (view spoiler)[with the discussion that Brand shot Vinny, who was playing the part of Ora with Rutledge. Because I don't think a bullet would have made any difference to a ghost! It would explain why she died so suddenly of pneumonia, when she hadn't even been part of the story up to that point. And it would explain the footprints, because I don't think a ghost would leave footprints. (hide spoiler)] Interesting story though!

[Connie]

"Bewitched" was first published in 1926 in "Here and Beyond." But I agree that it was set much earlier. (view spoiler)[

I love that the ending is ambiguous. There didn't seem to be any love between Mr and Mrs Rutledge. Venny, who may have resembled her sister, was probably shot by her father. The pneumonia was a coverup of the situation. (But Wharton leaves us wondering just a little bit if Ora could have been a ghost.) (hide spoiler)]

[Cynda]

Yeah I'm gllad you explained the logistics of "Bewitched", i
I totally missed that.

[Sara, New School Classics]

Connie wrote: "But Wharton leaves us wondering just a little bit if Ora could have been a ghost."

She certainly knows how to leave that little thread of unresolved mystery, doesn't she? The fun in the stories is the sense of maybe.

[Connie]

Terris, I liked your comment that ghosts would not leave footprints in the "Bewitched" story. Then, I was laughing because the next story, "Mr Jones," has a ghost that leaves dusty shoe prints! Who knew?

[Terris]

Ha ha! I can’t wait to read it!

[Cynda]

Early one I suspected and then I came to know the truth of who Mr Jones was. I used movie (view spoiler)[ The Others (2001) (hide spoiler)] as a basis of understanding. (view spoiler)[Just like in the movie, the story has servants who are long dead who continue to serve/run the house. Good servants keep secrets. Faithful ones for centuries. So it seems. (hide spoiler)]

[Cynda]

Pomegranate Seed

I liked the suspense in this one. (view spoiler)[ Not the dishonesty of the wife, not the depth and cruelty of the arguments she ises, the lack of judgment she has. But just the emotional drama I did like. (hide spoiler)]

[Brian E]

#9 MR. JONES
(view spoiler)[ This one may be the most straightforward story and, as Cynda points out, with a basic plot used often. Still, the setting and atmosphere are set up well and a straightforward tale balances the previous more ambiguous tale, to gives one's brain a needed respite. (hide spoiler)]