King Hamlets Ambiguous Ghost - 2031 Words

In discussions pertaining to the nature of Hamlet’s ghost, there is much debate. On the one hand, authors such as W.W. Greg believe that Hamlet’s ghost was merely a hallucination, but on the other hand, Maurice Egan believes that Hamlet’s ghost was a real character who truly existed. Egan also contends that the ghost is sent from purgatory, however, authors such as Roy Battenhouse believe that the ghost is pagan and came from hell. Others such as Robert West maintain that the ghost is neither from heaven or hell, but was written to be purposefully confusing so that any audience member could think of the ghost in many different ways. I personally believe that the ghost was a real character who came from hell and appeared before Hamlet in†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, the ghost requests for Hamlet to â€Å"revenge his foul and most unnatural murder† (Shakespeare 1.5 25). The ghost’s request of Hamlet matches what the true King Hamlet woul d have wished for, which further supports the claim that the ghost was real and actually did want Hamlet to exact revenge upon Claudius. While I agree with Roy Battenhouse’s claim that evidence supporting that the ghost is Catholic is lacking, I disagree with his assumption that if the ghost is not Catholic, then it must be pagan. Battenhouse states, â€Å"We may ask: is the Ghosts isolated gobbet of sacramental language sufficient to prove a Catholic faith?† (Battenhouse 162). Battenhouse is referencing to a particular section of the play where the ghost gives indication to the fact that he has partaken of Catholic rituals, however, he maintains that this one section alone is not enough evidence to prove that the ghost is indeed Catholic (Battenhouse 162). Battenhouse then attempts to paint King Hamlet as pagan, stating, â€Å"his desire for revenge represents a pagan demand for natural justice† (Battenhouse 190). This kind of claim cannot be thought of as proo f, simply due to the fact that the desire for revenge is merely a natural human emotion, and not necessarily a pagan belief. The ghost is also quoted stating, â€Å"Against thy mother aught, Leave her toShow MoreRelatedHamlet : Sadness, Madness, Or Just Misunderstood1053 Words   |  5 Pagesstraight out as the antagonist, though not immediately. He (Claudius) begins to establish himself as King of Denmark but it is until Hamlet makes his appearance that we see some of Claudius’s attributes. Claudius shows two faces; one of the grieving brother in mourning for his dead king and then as if the earth isn’t cold on his brother’s grave, he acts calm and professional as King himself showing almost no sadness at all up to entrance of Hamlet in the scene. To move that quicklyRead MoreThere is No Ghost in Hamlet Essay753 Words   |  4 Pagesapplication 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? The ghost firstRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis995 Words   |  4 Pagesare many events and characters that are ambiguous to the audience. They are interpreted in several ways as there are different view points on why a character decided to act like they did. Such examples in the play are Hamlet’s use of language is equivocal as he uses his words to confuse and insult other characters in the play. Moreover, the decisions that Hamlet makes to delay Claudius’ murder in the play can be interpreted to have various explanations. Hamlet’s personality is quite enigmatic as a resultRead MoreThe Contagion In Shakespeares Hamlet1365 Words   |  6 Pagescharacters, including Hamlet. Hamlet’s conscientious neutrality and vitality during the spreading of the contagion prohibit him from becoming villainous or heroic, but his actions, infected by the contagion, indirectly affect other characters ultimately determining his final destination. The contagion that has been cast over Denmark is a result of Hamlet’s father’s ghost who is stuck in purgatory. After King Hamlet dies, Hamlet’s mother marries the dead king’s brother, Hamlet’s uncle. The motive of theRead MoreHamlet : A Tragic Hero995 Words   |  4 PagesShakespearean tragedy Hamlet, the main protagonist, Prince Hamlet, is fated by the ghost of his late father that, because of his tragic flaw of procrastination, leads him to his self-destruction which deems him a tragic hero. For characters to be considered a tragic hero, they must first be destined by the gods or any other form of the supernatural. In the first act of Hamlet, the Ghost, who is believed to be the late King Hamlet, appears to his son, Prince Hamlet, to destine him to seek revenge forRead MoreAn Analysis of Queen Gertrudes Position in King Hamlets Death in William Shakespeares Hamlet1056 Words   |  5 PagesAn Analysis of Queen Gertrudes Position in King Hamlets Death in William Shakespeares Hamlet Usually in a playwright, one of the authors objectives is to keep the viewer or reader confused or disconcerted about certain events in the plot. Certain characters in a play or story that have concocted covert schemes to perhaps murder or frame somebody, may have confusing effects on the viewer. Depending on the way the plan was developed in the plot the viewer may have to stop and ask themselves;Read MoreHamlet Corruption Essay1040 Words   |  5 Pagescorruption, cruelty and uncertainty are portrayed. The idea that the human condition is corrupt and cruel shows that Hamlet has been hurt by something or someone in his past, and it gives an emphasis on his hurting. The thought of uncertainty is Hamlet’s point of view that we are uncertain of what life beholds thus that is why we as people never give up on life, we want to know what is next. Human nature makes the people want to know more, they want to know the future. First we shall start withRead MoreThe Success Of The Conjuring Trick1722 Words   |  7 Pagesdead horse was brought to receive the sacrament.† Such superstitions were believed as well as the interest in ghosts was increased during Elizabethan age were the element for the success of the conjuring trick made by King Hamlet Ghost. The Ghost knows so well about the belief of his people, especially his own son; that is why he is confident once he appears to Hamlet, he can lead Hamlet’s mind to serve for his evil purpose. The most important thing determines whether the conjuring trick will be successfulRead MoreHamlet s Downfall Of William Shakespeare s Hamlet1701 Words   |  7 PagesHamlet’s Downfall William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is perhaps the most significant tragedy ever written in literature to date. Hamlet is a reflection of everyday life at some point. Revenge against one another is commonly used in comparison Hamlet to modern life. Shakespeare’s Hamlet eloquently uses foreshadowing and other literary techniques to portray the insanity of Hamlet, which lead to his downfall. â€Å"Hamlet’s test assumes that a criminal, when confronted with his deeds, confesses his guilt throughRead More Significance of the Ghost to William Shakespeares Hamlet Essay1580 Words   |  7 PagesSignificance of the Ghost to William Shakespeares Hamlet In Shakespeares Hamlet, the ghost plays a key role in influencing the destinies of the other characters. The ghost is important to the play as it symbolizes both fate and catalyses the plot. It also brings the play into the revenge tragedy genre, which allows foreshadowing to occur and helps the audience, both Elizabethan and contemporary to better understand the play and appreciate it. The late King Hamlet is