Ghost Quote by Jerome K. Jerome
““After breakfast the host takes the young man into a corner, and explains to him that what he saw was the ghost of a lady who had been murdered in that very bed, or who had murdered somebody else there - it does not really matter which: you can be a ghost by murdering somebody else or by being murdered yourself, whichever you prefer. The murdered ghost is, perhaps, the more popular; but, on the other hand, you can frighten people better if you are the murdered one, because then you can show your wounds and do groans. ("Introduction" to TOLD AFTER SUPPER)””
About This Quote
Source Play: TOLD AFTER SUPPER, 1905
A story illustrates that being a ghost can result from either killing or being killed, and the “murdered ghost” is more effective at evoking fear because of visible wounds.
In simple terms: Ghosts can arise from killing or being killed; the murdered ghost scares more with visible wounds.
Key Takeaway
Use the murdered ghost metaphor to explore victim vs. perpetrator narratives.
Themes
psychology
storytelling
fear
identity
mortality
Mood
thoughtful
dark
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- theatre productions
- creative writing classes
- psychology seminars
- film script development
- horror gaming
Key Concepts
victimhood
perpetration
empathy
narrative power
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “murdered ghost” symbolize in personal trauma?
- How does visible suffering affect audience fear?
A Different Perspective
The analogy may oversimplify complex moral agency and ignore cultural variations in ghost lore.
![“They [dogs] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.” quote by Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c0/jerome-k-jerome-1155_about-yourself_they-dogs-never-talk-about-themselves-bu_76454.jpg)
