Essay The Ghost Of Hamlet’s Father - 1607 Words

The Ghost Of Hamlet’s Father What would Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, be like without the character of the Ghost? The drama simply wouldn’t BE! The Ghost, though not a human character in most senses of the word, is crucial for the development of the play. This essay will analyze this interesting character. The ghost’s apparition has deep significance. It touches the very spiritual underpinnings of the Denmark state. Frank Kermode in â€Å"Hamlet† explores the spiritual dimension of this spectral visit: But meanwhile the ghost – â€Å"this thing† – has appeared. (Horatio as skeptic raises questions as to its status which could have been avoided.) There has been speculation as to its purpose, but one thing seems sure:†¦show more content†¦The hour comes, and the ghost walks. The awed Horatio tries to speak to it but it stalks away, leaving the three men to wonder why the buried king has come back to haunt the land (35). Horatio and Marcellus exit the ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet, who is dejected by the â€Å"o’erhasty marriage† of his mother to his uncle. There is a social gathering of the court, where they make contact with Hamlet and escort him to the ramparts. At one a.m. the Ghost reveals to the protagonist the extent of the evil within Elsinore, â€Å"the human truth† (Abrams 467). The Ghost says that King Hamlet I was murdered by Claudius, who had a relationship with Gertrude prior to the murder; the ghost requests revenge by Hamlet: â€Å"Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.† Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,-- O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen: O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! (1.5) The dilemma which the ghost’s appearance creates for the hero is almost insuperable. Gunnar Boklund’s â€Å"Judgment in Hamlet† introduces â€Å"modern research into Elizabethan demonology† as it relates to the Ghost and its message: â€Å"It was apparently generallyShow MoreRelated Shakespeares Hamlet - The Ghost Of Hamlet’s Father Essay2404 Words   |  10 PagesThe Ghost Of Hamlet’s Father      Ã‚   What would Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, be like without the character of the Ghost? The drama simple wouldn’t BE! The Ghost, though not a human character in most senses of the word, is crucial for the development of the play. This essay will analyze this interesting character.    Frank Kermode in â€Å"Hamlet† fits the Ghost into the local and national scene:    But meanwhile the ghost – â€Å"this thing† – has appeared. (Horatio as skeptic raises questionsRead MoreThere is No Ghost in Hamlet Essay753 Words   |  4 Pagesapplication 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 firstRead More The Ghost of King Hamlet Essay1301 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ghost of King Hamlet      Ã‚   Many Shakespeare plays contain ghosts, perhaps most notably and most disturbingly in Macbeth and Hamlet. The ghost in Hamlet is the apparition of prince Hamlets father, the dead King Hamlet.   However, up until the time when the ghost first appears to Hamlet, interrupting his speech and thoughts, it appears Hamlet is unaware that his father was murdered.   As the ghost intones, I am thy fathers spirit, / Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, / And for theRead More Shakespeares Definition Of A Ghost Essay1172 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeares Definition of a Ghost nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The American Heritage Dictionary, published in 1973, defines a ghost as, quot;the spirit or shade of a dead person, supposed to haunt living persons or former habitats.quot; Unfortunately, this simple definition does not explain where a ghost comes from or why it haunts. When used in the context of Shakespeares Hamlet, this definition seems to suggest that the ghost who visits Hamlet truly is his dead father seeking revenge. To theRead MoreHidden Ghost By William Shakespeare1375 Words   |  6 PagesHidden Ghost In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, King Hamlet is killed by Claudius, Prince Hamlet’s uncle. The late king returns as what is suspected to be a ghost or spirit and gives Prince Hamlet orders to seek revenge on Claudius and murder him. This causes Hamlet to intensely consider whether honor or logic is more important. Although Shakespeare only directly refers to one ghost, there are many more ghosts behind the scenes. In the tragedy by Shakespeare, Hamlet as well as all the characters haveRead More Horatio: A True Friend of Hamlet Essay826 Words   |  4 Pageshim, and that was Horatio. The other key characters in the play were only out for their own good. However Horatio was looking out for Hamlet. Unfortunately, Horatio was the only one. Gertrude was Hamlet’s mother. She was a selfish and evil woman. She cheated on Hamlet’s father with Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle. She married Claudius a month after her husband’s death. Gertrude wanted Hamlet to stop his grieving. She told Hamlet, â€Å"thou know’st ‘tis common, all that lives must die, passing through natureRead More The Ghost in Kenneth Brannaghs Hamlet Essay1518 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ghost in Kenneth Brannaghs Hamlet William Shakespeares 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 Hamlets dead father. At first glance, it may be sufficient to accept the ghost as the spirit of Hamlets dead father who returns to the land of the living in order to have his son avenge his murderRead MoreThe Ghost Of Old Hamlet1466 Words   |  6 PagesThe ghost of Old Hamlet is an important part of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but the ghost does not appear to all of the characters. The audience first sees the ghost when it appears before Horatio and the watchmen, Bernardo and Marcellus, who are both minor characters who do not play a major role in the play. Hamlet also sees the ghost later, and the audience only hears the ghost speak in interactions between him and Hamlet. However, because the ghost’s words are not r eal, it also brings forth the questionRead MoreFeigning Madness Or Truly Insane?1173 Words   |  5 Pagesthe play occurs when a ghost begins showing up at the castle. At the beginning of the play two guards stand outside of the castle speaking of a ghost they had seen twice before â€Å"this dreaded sight twice seen of us† (1.1.25). Horatio, a scholar, stands with the men when the ghost comes by again and Marcellus, a guard, says to Horatio â€Å"Thou art a scholar; speak to it Horatio† (1.1.42). After failed attempts at speaking with the ghost, it leaves and Horatio contemplates whose ghost it could have been.Read MoreThe Transformation Of Prince Shakespeare s Hamlet 1466 Words   |  6 Pagesto go through than it is for others. In Hamlet’s case, the events that slowly change him prove to be quite unbearable. It is people that mean the most to him that lead him to change, not because he wants to, but because he has to. They cause Hamlet to lose his mind, dr ive him insane, and in the end, it was a loss for everyone that was involved. From the beginning of the play, Hamlet is labelled as a heavy hearted and unhappy man. This is seen as â€Å"Hamlet’s Transformation† as the King called it.