A Ghost at the Gates
A Ghost by the Gates:
A Look at the Role of the Ghost in Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
In the play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, by William Shakespeare, the Ghost that appears performs an important role. Because the Ghost is a supernatural being, its utility is very flexible, and as such is a perfect way for Shakespeare to use him in multiple ways. The fact that the Ghost can do peculiar things such as ignore characters and only be seen by certain characters means that the audience will not question the peculiarities; they will allow the Ghost to serve its function. While he does not have many lines, and only speaks with one character, he builds suspense, intrigues the audience, and continues the action of the play. When the Ghost appears in the first scene, it is clear how Shakespeare first intends to use him. He does not wait until later in the play, but instead begins his show with a mysterious spirit wandering along the walls. All authors wish to intrigue their audience early in a piece, and by using a character such as the Ghost, Shakespeare achieves this. Before the Ghost even appears, there is talk of him as a “dreaded sight, twice seen of us” (Hamlet I.i.24). This line indicates that not only is the Ghost frightening, but he has been seen more than once. The fact that a spirit would show up more than once carries with it a sense of foreboding and warning. The guards are obviously frightened and wish not to see it, which is evident by Horatio’s hopeful words that it “’twill not appear” (Hamlet I.i.29). When the Ghost finally enters the scene, there is great interest as to why it has come, especially when they compare its likeness to the recently deceased king (Hamlet I.i.43). It will also not speak to the guards on duty, and leaves before anything can really be found out about it, adding to its mystery. It is important to note that all of the characters in this scene have seen the Ghost, validating its existence. When Horatio alerts Hamlet of
A Look at the Role of the Ghost in Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
In the play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, by William Shakespeare, the Ghost that appears performs an important role. Because the Ghost is a supernatural being, its utility is very flexible, and as such is a perfect way for Shakespeare to use him in multiple ways. The fact that the Ghost can do peculiar things such as ignore characters and only be seen by certain characters means that the audience will not question the peculiarities; they will allow the Ghost to serve its function. While he does not have many lines, and only speaks with one character, he builds suspense, intrigues the audience, and continues the action of the play. When the Ghost appears in the first scene, it is clear how Shakespeare first intends to use him. He does not wait until later in the play, but instead begins his show with a mysterious spirit wandering along the walls. All authors wish to intrigue their audience early in a piece, and by using a character such as the Ghost, Shakespeare achieves this. Before the Ghost even appears, there is talk of him as a “dreaded sight, twice seen of us” (Hamlet I.i.24). This line indicates that not only is the Ghost frightening, but he has been seen more than once. The fact that a spirit would show up more than once carries with it a sense of foreboding and warning. The guards are obviously frightened and wish not to see it, which is evident by Horatio’s hopeful words that it “’twill not appear” (Hamlet I.i.29). When the Ghost finally enters the scene, there is great interest as to why it has come, especially when they compare its likeness to the recently deceased king (Hamlet I.i.43). It will also not speak to the guards on duty, and leaves before anything can really be found out about it, adding to its mystery. It is important to note that all of the characters in this scene have seen the Ghost, validating its existence. When Horatio alerts Hamlet of
Bibliography: Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark." Literature A Portable Anthology. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin 's, 2009. 778-898. Print.