Hamlet - Ghost :: essays research papers

small town - hintThe presence of the apparition in the opening scene of William Shakespeare&8217s small town sets a macabre and eerie tone while emitting and foreshadowing atheme of death. In addition to the death theme the presence of the specterilluminates on the riddle surrounding the death of village&8217s father, the fag of Denmark. Often in literature the presence of a specter indicates something left wing unresolved. In this case, the death of Hamlets father is the unresolved event as soundly the revenge necessary to give the tormented soul repose. The ghost created mystery for the audience, spawns the chain of death and treachery in Denmark, causes characters to question the death of their causation king, andmakes the metaphysics of the play dark. The ghost says nothing despite the valiant efforts on the split of Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo. Suspense is created when the audience is ignorant as to the purpose of the ghost. Later in the play the ghost is utiliz ed to allow Hamlet and the audience companionship of the vile murder of the king by Claudius, the kings own brother. When the ghost eventually speaks, he tells Hamlet,&8220Revenge his overload and intimately unnatural murder.Murder most foul, as in the best it is, tho this most foul, strange, and unnatural.(I.v.25-28)These quotes let Hamlet as well as the audience know that the fathers deathwas foul and unnatural contrary to popular belief. The spirit then reveals themurder to Hamlet by professing this&8220A serpent stung me. So the undivided ear of DenmarkIs by a forged process of my death Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth,The serpent that did sting thy father&8217s livelihoodNow wears his crown.(I.v.35-39)This statement not only reveals the culprit it eludes to the manner in which the king was assassinated. Upon hearing this Hamlet and the audience realize who the murderer is and how the plot of ground of vengeance will unfold. Without theapparition the beginning of the play would lack the metaphysical and eerie auraas well as the revelation of most wretched crime thus making the play bland andmeaningless.Although the ghost is apparently Hamlet&8217s father those who saw him werefearful. The reason arse this is that in the sixteenth century a ghost could be a demon trying to deceive Hamlet rather than the soul of his bump off father. &8220The papists in former times have publicly both taught and create verbally thatthose spirits which men sometimes see and hear be every good or bad