What is the role of the ghost in the novel 'The Canterville Ghost'?

The ghost in the novel 'The Canterville Ghost' represents the old English world which comes into conflict with the new American world, represented by the Otis family. While the many instances of the Ghost being harassed and humiliated by the members of the Otis family shows how the old world cannot keep pace with the new, the reader also feels sympathetic to the ghost.The materialistic American family cannot appreciate the refined sensibilities that are required to understand the Ghost's predicament. The only exception is Virginia, in whom we find a perfect balance of modern common sense and sensitivity towards the past. When she releases the Ghost from his curse, she bids farewell to the past with the respect it deserves.