Ghosts In John Dover Wilson's Hamlet

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

I have formulated my own question: Is determining the ghost’s nature in Hamlet a vital part in understanding and experiencing the play? It would be easy to assume automatically that all spirits are come from hell to tempt and destroy the living. However, the reader, like Hamlet, cannot resist feeling compelled to hear the spirit’s account of his death and his lack of peace. The ghost has very influential verbal power throughout the play and a rhetorical appeal that leaves us utterly engrossed in his supernatural influence. However, Hamlet relies on more visual, concrete proof to evaluate what the ghost is revealing and Claudius’ guilt.

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.

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?

William Shakespeare is arguably the most influential writer of not just the Renaissance, but of all time. Shakespeare wrote plays that everyone could watch, the genres of the plays ranged from true love all the way to true craziness. Hamlet is a tragedy play about a Danish prince that has to deal with a incesterous marriage between his uncle and mother. Hamlet is confronted by a spirit posing to be his father, this spirit tells Hamlet that Claudius his father’s brother poured poison in his ear while he slept in the garden. Hamlet battles his own thoughts about the spirit being the real ghost of his father, or a devil spirit that is trying to corrupt his brain. The spirit that confronts Hamlet is a devil spirit.

Hey guess what!!! Your father King Hamlet is dead!!! Amazing right, I know, so not I'm going to attempt to steal his life, that does include marrying his wife. Your mom, so from now on don’t call me uncle just call me dad!!!! Whoa whoa whoa that was wild I know “but that what does that have to do with anything?” you may be asking yourself. Well Hamlet is struggling to deal with the realization that his world has just been turned upside down!! “Well has is he dealing with it?” you may be asking yourself. Well buckle up because we are going to take a closer look at Hamlet's relationship with the Ghost (Hamlet’s father), King Claudius(Hamlet's Uncle), and Queen Gertrude (Hamlet’s mom).

Some say ghosts are a mind trick, only there to give an excuse or a feeling. Others would be willing to swear on their life that ghosts are watching the world each and every day; even sometimes that they appear to guide people. Hamlet's "madness" is based on one moment of truth from the ghost of his late father. Hamlet's ghost is no mind trick though, because how else would he know the tale of his father’s death? If it was only a trick, then why did Claudius' guilt overthrow Hamlet's play? If Marcellus, Barnardo, and Horatio could see it too, then how could it not be true? The ghost appeared to Hamlet to tell him the truth about how he died and it was not part of his imagination.

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the role of the ghost can very easily be debated. There are a couple roles and purposes that the ghost has throughout the play, which is why it is hard to pinpoint one main role that it serves. After reading the play, it sticks out that Shakespeare uses the ghost for two main roles: firstly to spark an interest and create suspense for readers; secondly to ask Hamlet to avenge its own death.

The undeniable truth about the scary and ghastly figures called ghosts is that they can be both reliable and untrustworthy at the same time. Do they provide more facts then lies or more lies then facts? Do ghosts even care enough to tell the truth to begin with? The apparation in Hamlet tells the hard facts. Although, he will tell somebody a twisted version of the truth, simply because, he ghost is dead, he has nothing better to do. The ghost mentions "doomed for a certain term to walk the night, / for the day confined to fast in fires" (line 14-15). The ghost means he is in the middle ground between heaven and hell, he is ridding his sins. Another reason why he may not care if he is lying or not. Hamlet says to Horatio "it is an honest ghost,

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

Shakespeare’s extensive use of imagery develops more characteristics of Hamlet. Again through Hamlet’s soliloquys, his intelligence is demonstrated through allusions to Greek mythological characters. For example, in Act II, scene ii, Hamlet alludes to the battle of Troy. In his detailed descriptions of these mythological facts, his wit can be seen as he relates these characters to characters in the play. In addition, through Hamlet’s many questions regarding the afterlife and suicide, his philosophical facet can be seen. For instance, the Ghost describes how his “father’s spirit, / Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, / And for the day confined to fast in fires, / Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature / Are burnt and purged away” (I, V, 9-13). This description of purgatory leads Hamlet to ponder about the afterlife and whether the Ghost is an angel from heaven or devil from hell. Furthermore, Hamlet’s

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

The Ghost is approached as an important figure in Hamlet, he plays the role of Hamlet’s father. The ghost presence is a key factor in the play. As we can see that many factors and scenes are caused by him physically being there and psychologically getting into hamlets head––“The ghost in Hamlet is essential to the plot of the play and to an understanding of both the problem, hamlet, and his character” (Joseph 493). We can see the appearance of the ghost in several scenes in Act one.

Shakespeare utilizes King Hamlet’s ghost, through appearances, to drive the action of the play, especially Hamlet’s actions, and to reveal Hamlet’s character development to the audience throughout the tragedy. The ghost, although not onstage the most, serves as one of the major characters because it sets up the story as a tragedy and represents Hamlet’s

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).