The ghost

Indhold

The ghost is Hamlet’s late father (old Hamlet)
The ghost tells young Hamlet about Claudius’ deceit
The ghost asks Hamlet to spare his mother
The ghost functions as the catalyst of the revenge plot

The ghost is Hamlet’s late father (old Hamlet)

In William Shakespeare’s drama Hamlet, the ghost embodies Hamlet’s deceased father, who was also called Hamlet and was the king of Denmark before his death. He appears several times in the play, always in the uniform of a general, and is described as a “warlike form” (1.1.57) and a “figure of terror in arms” in the very first scene of the play. He is also completely pale and looks as if he is suffering greatly.

Through the other characters, we get some information about what old Hamlet was like when he was still alive. Horatio calls him a brave warrior because he succeeded in defeating the old Norwegian king Fortinbras in a duel (1.1.95-99). Hamlet describes his father as an “excellent king” (1.2.141).

The ghost tells young Hamlet about Claudius’ deceit

The ghost of Hamlet’s father has already appeared to the two guards Marcellus and Bernardo before the play begins. The guards are so disturbed by the ...