The Ghost In Hamlet

Shakespeare fancies the application of ghosts in his plays, Hamlet is no exception. Scholars argue that the ghost in Hamlet is only a figment of Hamlet’s imagination, but how does that explain others witnessing the apparition. Hamlet’s mental state is declining throughout the play, but what is the true cause? From an external view Hamlet appears insane, whether or not he is insane is left ambiguous. If he is insane, is the traumatic loss of his father causing Hamlet to see a ghost or is the ghost real indeed?

The Ghost in Hamlet cleared out the event that Hamlet was uncertain of. The spirit clarified the death of King Hamlet, and caused Hamlet to perform his evil deeds. The Ghost’s request to avenge him caused the death of Hamlet’s family, friends, and eventually himself; therefore, the spirit can be viewed as evil because it failed the four tests that was set by Lewes Lavater and the Church.

murder in a rash mood. It is not seen by Gertrude. It tries to urge

The Ghost in Hamlet is a widely controversial topic with arguments determining whether the Ghost is a “goblin damn’d” or a “spirit of health.” (1.4.40) “‘A spirit of health’ is one, which comes from heaven with charitable intentions, and ‘a goblin damn’d’ is one, which comes from Hell with wicked intentions.” The Ghost only has two appearances in the play and is a symbol for uncertainty, yet it is important as it catalyses the play into action and also Hamlet into madness. The Ghost in Hamlet is an evil spirit returning to revenge his killer Claudius; which is a questionable action for a Catholic person leading the audience to believe that the Ghost is evil. He pressures Hamlet into revenging Claudius while destroying Hamlet’s

The Ghost of Hamlet's father is a foil for Hamlet. The ghost is introduced so to reveal information that is not blatantly revealed to us yet. The king gives us some explanation of why Hamlet wants revenge. The king tells us of his death and introduces the fact that it was a murder and tells that the murder was committed by his brother. Through the conversation with the ghost he gains more fuel for the anger he has about his mother’s marriage. In the discussion with Hamlet and the

In the play by William Shakespeare, the ghost of King Hamlet approaches his mourning and depressed son, Hamlet, who is still affected by his death. The ghost explains to Hamlet how he died and demands that Hamlet avenge his death. Note how the ghost approaches Hamlet when he’s the weakest and still mourning to persuade and manipulate him into taking revenge for him. In Act one Scene 5 the ghost states, “If thou didst ever thy dear father love-/ Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” The way King Hamlet words his request is more as a challenge; in which Hamlet’s love for his dead father can only be proven by carrying out whatever his father wishes. The ghost influences most Hamlet’s behavior, which not only affects the plot, but also the relationships with other characters. The ghost influences the relationship between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude. He becomes angry at Gertrude because of her fast marriage with his uncle Claudius. Through the use of innuendos, antic disposition, and metamorphic plays, Hamlet makes it his duty to get King Claudius back for killing his father. Hamlet agreed to avenge his father without second thought. As the play advances, Hamlet begins to doubt the apparition. In act 3 Hamlet begins to have second thoughts and states, “The spirit that I have seen/ May be a devil…” This shows Hamlet’s inner conflict between listening to his father and avenging his death or following his ethics. To be sure that Claudius

that it was on death that the soul either went to Heaven or Hell, thus

The ghost reveals that King Hamlet was murdered by Claudius; Hamlet swears to avenge this deed. With the ghost’s exhortation, Hamlet ironically “is not to be allowed simply to endure a rotten world, he must also act in it” (Mack 258); the one who least wants to be part of the world must engross himself fully with the things of the world in order to validate the ghost’s accusation and then carry out his wish. In his essay, “Reforming the Role,” Mark Rose discusses the irony involved with the ghost’s appearance:

The Ghost and Hamlet’s development and trait difference. The Ghost with “martial stalk hath he gone by our watch” (Act 1.1, 64-65). Hamlet will visit tower to see the Ghost (Act 1.2, 242 - 243). The Ghost was developed to be ominous. Hamlet was developed to be curious. The Ghost’s development of being ominous contributes in helping Hamlet’s curiosity which makes him intrigued to see the Ghost. (GHOST) Cautious, not speaking (Act 1.1, 170). Hamlet shows he is a follower, by stating, “It is ‘Adieu, adieu. Remember me.’ I have sworn’t.” (Act 1.2, 111-112). The Ghost seems to be silent or cautious depending on the point of view the reader is taking. Hamlet’s trait is shown by him seeing his dead father which he was recently mourning for. Hamlet’s

William Shakespeare's Hamlet is a drama which has been renound for its content and depiction of characters. Over the years, it has gone through many variations of interpretations and criticisms. One such criticism is the nature of the ghost who takes the form of Hamlet's dead father. At first glance, it may be sufficient to accept the ghost as the spirit of Hamlet's dead father who returns to the land of the living in order to have his son avenge his murder. However, looking deeper into the text, several unignorable signs become visible which lead us to see that the ghost is actually the devil in disguise. Kenneth Brannagh's 1997 production of Hamlet brilliantly portrays these signs of evil and

A ghost appears and says he is Hamlet’s father. The ghost says he was murdered, and wants Hamlet to get revenge on who is responsible for his death. Hamlet is hesitant because he doesn’t know if the ghost is telling the truth. Hamlet must find out the truth and deal with his actions along the way. The ghost has a very impactful and important role in the play, and is the driving point in the play.

Hamlet and the Ghost relationship are connected because the Ghost is the only on tell Hamlet the truth. “But 2 months dead-nay, not so much not two” (Shakespeare P. 26). His father hasn’t been dead for no more than two mounts and King Claudius want the whole kingdom to stop mourning over the death of the former king (King Hamlet) and start celebrate him (King Claudius). “ so, Uncle, there you are, now it’s time for me to keep the vow that i made to my father” (shakespeare P.66). Hamlet’s father's (Ghost) had just got done tell Hamlet that Claudius just killed him and that his mother (Gertrude) was having an affair the whole time Hamlet. “O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? Shall I cripple in hell” (Shakespeare P.66). This is ready a turning point in the reading because of the fact

In William Shakespeare's work Hamlet, Shakespeare uses the ghost of the deceased king, a character with only a brief presence, to play a significant role in the plot of the story as a whole in multiple ways. The first way Shakespeare uses the ghost of King Hamlet is by first using him to play a crucial role in the development of the characters in the play This is especially true regarding Hamlet. An example of the ghost influencing the development of the characters in the play is sending Hamlet into his descent into madness and furthering his complex character. Shakespeare does this by having the ghost inform Hamlet of his father’s murder. Secondly, Shakespeare uses the ghost to influence the theme of revenge and madness that develops in the play by using the ghost as a driving force

    Does the ghost in Shakespeare’s Hamlet conform to the standards for ghosts in the days of the dramatist? This essay will answer this and other questions about the ghost in the drama.

The ghost made the whole situation for Hamlet seem even that much more unreal. He already wished that all of the recent events he had to deal with were not real. He then has to deal with the reality of this ghost. It seems to influence him terribly and takes a negative toll on his emotions. This occurrence continues to further diversify Hamlet’s feelings and emotions (Snider, 67).