Hamlet, Shakespeare Analysis Essay Example

to the old notion that only those who can speak Latin, the language of religion, can communicate with spirits. While there is an element of uneducated suspicion, the characters mainly represent Catholic views. Marcellus holds back on Catholic beliefs, believing the ghost to be the spirit of the "majestic" king and entertaining the notion that they could not harm it as it is a "phantasmal" body and not real flesh. Horatio and Hamlet both studied at Wittenberg University, known for its theological and Protestant teachings, implying that they should have a better understanding of the ghost in line with their Protestant beliefs.

Despite both Hamlet and Horatio encountering the ghost, they hold different perspectives. Horatio expresses doubt and disbelief, stating that the ghost "won't appear" and may just be an "illusion...of flat knavery". However, after witnessing the ghost, he questions his skeptical beliefs, asking "What art thou, that usurp'st this time of night?" and wondering if it could be a devil or angel. In contrast, Hamlet's belief is clear when he says "Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned."

Hamlet expresses uncertainty about the ghost's identity, acknowledging that it could either be an angel of health or a devil from the damned. Hamlet does not entertain the possibility of another option. After conversing with the ghost, Hamlet receives an astounding revelation and begins to consider new ideas, including purgatory. He asks if there is anything else in the spiritual world from which the ghost could have arrived, including hell.

The reason for Hamlet's uncertainty about the ghost could be understood by the audience, as he normally believed in the idea that heaven and hell are

a "bourn from which no traveller returns". However, the appearance of the ghost in his father's form raises many questions in Hamlet's mind. Even after two months, Hamlet is still unsure whether the ghost is from heaven or hell. He says, "Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell," indicating that only the ghost has given him any indication of the murder and that the ghost has "prompted" him to take revenge. It seems as though Hamlet needed an excuse to avenge his uncle.

Hamlet is uncertain about the origins of the ghost, stating that it is from both "heaven and hell". Because of this confusion, he refers to it as such until he learns otherwise. Hamlet is afraid that the ghost may be from hell and he must uncover the truth. He says, "The spirit I have seen may be the devil. And the devil have power T'assume a pleasing shape..."

Hamlet is shown to doubt the ghost's image by Shakespeare as he fears that the devil is tempting him to murder while he is weak and susceptible. He shares this fear with Horatio and wonders if the devil "abuses me to damn me". The ghost, who assumes his father's image, conveys a sense of falsity to Hamlet, who would see it as "a pleasing shape" due to his longing for his father. This is the reason why Hamlet has not acted on the ghost's words for the past two months without any proof to support them.

Hamlet uses the play as an opportunity to uncover if his uncle truly murdered the king and dismiss the ghost's suspicions. Shakespeare employs a rhyming couplet with alliteration to

emphasize his intention of catching the king's conscience, which gives the audience an impression of a trap that corresponds with later events in the play. Hamlet's aim is to catch the king out and prove the truth of the Ghost. According to Dover Wilson, the ghost is the "linchpin" of the play as it explains why Hamlet behaves in a certain way. Without the ghost, there would be no story as Hamlet would not have known about his father's murder and would not have tried to avenge him.

The appearance of the ghost in Hamlet serves not only as a catalyst for the plot but also sparks debate on its true identity. Hamlet's uncertainty about the ghost's authenticity creates skepticism about its intentions. His concern is evident in act one scene five when he urges the others to keep quiet and the ghost follows, saying "Hamlet: Nay, swear it.

The voice of the ghost emerges from under the stage, prompting Hamlet to ask if the ghost is present everywhere. As they move, the ghost continues to follow them three more times, giving the impression that it is coming from hell. During this exchange, Hamlet also speaks to his sword, which is referred to as "Ghost."

Hamlet is anxious and begins to doubt the ghost, who is deliberately staged by Shakespeare to reveal the reason for Hamlet's fears as they descend underground. The ghost insists on secrecy, causing Hamlet to question his revenge plans and feel the need to verify the ghost's honesty. As Hamlet states in his weakness, "Perhaps..."

Hamlet's determination to expose the king's guilt is illustrated by Shakespeare through his proficient work with spirits, who

Hamlet claims "Abuses me to damn me." In the play, Hamlet utilizes the performance to uncover the king's culpability while also doubting the ghost's judgment. The queen's second encounter with the ghost acquits her of murdering the king and raises suspicions of her adultery. Her inability to sense the ghost's presence is emphasized when she questions Hamlet for staring into "vacancy," referring to how he can see the ghost while she perceives him as gazing into thin air.

Shakespeare employs the metaphor of vacuity to illustrate how Claudius, the queen's new husband, has taken the place of her previous spouse in both her life and heart. This concept resonates deeply with Hamlet, who grapples with immense grief for his father and struggles to reconcile his mother's remarriage. Additionally, Elizabethan audiences would perceive the queen's inability to see her former husband as evidence of disloyalty. Shakespeare reinforces this notion of treachery by portraying the ghost as a sorrowful figure that exacerbates Hamlet's emotions of anguish and rage. As Hamlet implores the ghost, "Do not look upon me lest with piteous action you convert my stern effects."

The ghost's gaze has a sorrowful impact on Hamlet, causing him to feel as if he could cry instead of seeking revenge. In fact, Hamlet even asks the ghost to stop looking at him due to the intense emotions invoked. Shakespeare emphasizes the ghost's departure with the phrase "Look how he steals away," generating pity towards the ghost who has just seen his wife for the first time since his passing. It is clear that his love will forever be separated from him even in death.

It is confirmed that the ghost is

indeed the spirit of Hamlet's father through its reaction, indicating the importance of understanding Elizabethan beliefs about ghosts. Without this understanding, Hamlet's task, fear and confusion would be difficult to comprehend for modern readers. The reason for Hamlet's delayed revenge, his inability to determine the nature of the ghost and his mother's inability to see it would all remain unclear. Therefore, knowledge of the audience's beliefs is crucial in comprehending Hamlet.