Preview

The Ghost And Manipulation In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
118 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Ghost And Manipulation In Shakespeare's Hamlet
The former King of Denmark, Old Hamlet, appears as a ghost and exhorts his son to kill Claudius. The ghost claims Claudius has killed him in order to secure the throne and the queen of Denmark. Hamlet doubts that the ghost is actually his dead father, but instead a demon sent to bait him into the depths of hell. The ghost's appearance and manipulation of Hamlet in the first act is what sets the main plot for the rest of the play. Old Hamlet's ghost reappears in the third act of the play when Hamlet goes too far in criticizing his mom. This was the last time that Old Hamlet’s spirit appeared in the rest of the

Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Rosencrantz And Gertrude's Suicide In Hamlet
    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rosencrantz And Gertrude's Suicide In Hamlet

    In this book “Hamlet” Hamlet is obsessed with suicide even though he never does it. Hamlet falls in deep love in the book and Hamlet's mother marries Hamlet's uncle after his uncle kills the king with poison. Claudius killed Hamlet Sr with poison in his ear and then not long after marries his wife. Hamlet then is told about a ghost that is haunting the kingdom Hamlet declares to see this ghost and ask it questions because they think it is his father. Hamlet sees the ghost and ask it what its purpose is for being in the kingdom and Hamlet says “To be, or not to be”(3.1.63) speech and he felt he needed to find the truth in the ghost’s words of wisdom so he would know how to respond to the ghost and that's how Hamlet finds out that Claudius…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Contrast Between Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras
    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Contrast Between Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras

    The appearance of his father's ghost didn't seem very reliable to him as he began to question his own sanity over what he thinks he should do about the situation. Hamlet deeply contemplates about his soul being damned on actions he was willing to pursue in avenging his father's death. He cautiously plots his act of revenge and waits for the ideal moment to avenge his father's murder. He decides to show King Claudius a play, a similar performance of Claudius' own murderous deed, hopefully seeing some kind of reaction from the king. He says "I'll have these…

    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ghost Of King Hamlet Analysis
    • 309 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ghost Of King Hamlet Analysis

    In Act I scene V, the ghost of King Hamlet intends to ensnare Hamlet because it seeks revenge against Claudius for killing him. The ghost of King Hamlet announced to Hamlet that he did not die from a snake bite but instead was killed by Claudius during the time of sleep. With Hamlet being desperate to communicate with his father, he is attentively listening to every word that the ghost of King Hamlet gives to him. The ghost of King Hamlet knows that Hamlet loves his father very much therefore he takes advantage of him by announcing that he must “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (I.V. 31). The ghost of King Hamlet is trying to entrap Hamlet into murdering Claudius by reassuring him that the deed or killing Claudius must be done…

    • 309 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Diction and Imagery in Hamlet
    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Diction and Imagery in Hamlet

    young Hamlet, as a ghost bearing terrible news. The ghost tells Hamlet that he was killed by Claudius, his…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Laertes Get Revenge In Hamlet
    • 606 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Laertes Get Revenge In Hamlet

    In the beginning of the play, hamlet meets the ghost who looks just like his late father king hamlet.When Hamlet sees his father's ghost, the ghost talks to him. It tells him about how it was murdered. The ghost tells Hamlet that it was Claudius who killed Hamlet's…

    • 606 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Seeking Revenge In Hamlet
    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Theme Of Seeking Revenge In Hamlet

    Throughout the tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare writes about Hamlet’s journey of seeking revenge. The play begins with Marcellus and Barnardo taking watch over the Denmark castle one night and running into a ghost in the shape of King Hamlet who recently passed. Along with these two men enters Francisco and Horatio, Hamlet’s friends, who also witness the appearance of the ghost and decide to inform Hamlet of what they have seen. After explaining to Hamlet what they have seen they advise him to see for himself at midnight upon their next watch, and sure enough the ghost reappears. As Hamlet follows the ghost it describes the actions that led to his death, explaining that Claudius murdered him, then asks Hamlet to avenge him. In the midst of asking Hamlet to punish Claudius he also says, “Taint not thy mind, not let thy soul contrive/Against thy mother aught. Leave her to Heaven/And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge/…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Insanity and Sanity in Hamlet Essay Example
    • 1122 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Insanity and Sanity in Hamlet Essay Example

    Hamlet portrays his insanity through his blatant acts of insanity, his play and the sighting of Old Hamlet. All the while, he has a clear and conscious mind to prove Claudius’s guilt. Old Hamlet has appeared to Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo. These three people give credibility to the ghost's existence. If Hamlet was the only one who saw the ghost, then it could be assumed that he was mad. The three men witness the ghost before even notifying Hamlet. Horatio states "Before my God, I might not this believe without the sensible and true avouch of mine own eyes." (I.1.56-8). All three men are witnesses to the ghost demanding that Hamlet speak alone to it. And all three swear upon Hamlet's sword to keep it secret. This scene clearly shows that the ghost is not a made up image formed in Hamlet’s head. Hamlet really seems to be sane when he asks the actors to perform a specific act in the play. The scene will resemble the murder of King Hamlet. Hamlet expects that if the ghost is telling the truth about Claudius murdering his father, then Claudius will react to the scene, thus admitting his guilt. Hamlet states "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." (II.2.581-82). Anyone who can plot that, and think that far ahead, needs to have a clear head. Besides, Hamlet's sane friend, Horatio is helping him with his plot to catch the murderer. Horatio states "If `a steal aught the whilst this play is playing, And `scape detecting, I will pay the theft." (III.2.75-76). Hamlet needs a sane mind to develop this plot to reveal Claudius’s…

    • 1122 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Compare And Contrast Hamlet And The Ghost Of King Hamlet
    • 556 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Compare And Contrast Hamlet And The Ghost Of King Hamlet

    An example of two different movies that have the same title, contain a scene that is essentially getting the same message across, but differ so much in the depiction of two scenes, would be hamlet. In 1990, Mel Gibson and Paul Scofield played the role of prince hamlet, and the ghost of king hamlet. 6 years later, in 1996, another version of hamlet was released, starring Kenneth Branagh as prince hamlet, and Brian Blessed as the Ghost of hamlet. These two films were very much the same in terms of characters, and the point being made to the audience. At the same time, however, the way these two films were depicted was entirely different. The two main differences between these two films were the cinematography, and the setting.…

    • 556 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Significance Of The Ghost In Hamlet
    • 169 Words
    • 1 Page

    Significance Of The Ghost In Hamlet

    The ghost in Hamlet is a manipulative figure who serves as a reflection of Hamlet’s perspective of his uncle. Hamlet is too distressed about his mother marrying his uncle and the death of his father for he himself to be considered reliable. As Horatio comments, “He waxes desperate with imagination,” portraying Hamlet’s desire to find something that may not even exist. Hamlet does speak to this “ghost” and confirms his own suspicions, as if this ghost simply existed to give Hamlet confirmation of what he already believed. This ghost also refuses to speak or be heard by anyone except Hamlet, putting into question its own existence. The ghost being part of Hamlet’s imagination is supported by Hamlet stating to Horatio, “My Father – methinks I…

    • 169 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Does Shakespeare Present Claudius's Death In Hamlet
    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Does Shakespeare Present Claudius's Death In Hamlet

    The ghost is Hamlet's father king Hamlet. The ghost showing up at the doors to the castle illuminates a kind of fear to the guards. The guards notice that this figure looks like him and they go to get Hamlet. Hamlet comes out and sees him. The ghost said,”King Claudius has killed me, avenge me son”. This illuminates the theme revenge because Hamlet has been trying to figure out how his father has died and why he had died. This strikes a anger in Hamlet and he makes this his true drive to figure out if this is true. Hamlet talks to the player king and player queen about how they might like to change a couple things in the play they are doing for king claudius. They agree and Hamlet goes on about what he wants to change and how he wants it to be. The day they do this play is very important to the theme revenge because, Hamlet is trying to get a reaction by replaying to the exact specific of what…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Ghost Of Hamlet Research Paper
    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Ghost Of Hamlet Research Paper

    After the death of Hamlet and Claudius, Fortinbras takes over as King of Denmark. He is known as a noble and just ruler of the land and everyone is pleased with their new king. As a fishing vessel returns to Denmark from a long voyage, the men aboard the ship see a figure floating in the fog above the water. Immediately they believe it to be a man who has fallen overboard and send a rescue boat over. As they arrive, they are shocked and bewildered to see a ghost resembling the prince of Denmark. Having been away from their homeland for quite some time, they are unaware of the death of the royal family and believe the figure to be a hallucination caused by the sea.…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet's Relationships
    • 1680 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Hamlet's Relationships

    The ghost of King Hamlet played an important role during the book. The first interaction between King Hamlet's Ghost can be simply called extreme. Hamlet is extreme when he goes with the ghost that looks like his father even though his friends warn him that the ghost may be evil and ". . .tempt you toward the flood . . . Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff . . ." (Act 1, Scene IV, Lines 69-70). If the prince was thinking right he would not have gone with the ghost that resembled the old ". . . King, father, royal Dane . . ." (Act 1, Scene IV, Line 45) Hamlet's radical actions let him find out about Claudius' devious murder of his brother, King Hamlet . The ghost of King Hamlet has described Claudius as "...that incestuous, that adulterate beast" (Act 1, Scene V, Line 43). King Hamlet wants Hamlet to get revenge against Claudius for killing him, but he does not want Gertrude to get hurt while this is going on. Hamlet therefore delays in killing Claudius because he needs to find out if his mother has anything to do with the treachery. Hamlet took this relationship cautiously and did this correctly because ghosts were thought as underhandedly evil.…

    • 1680 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Hamlet Act 1
    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hamlet Act 1

    Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 1, outlines the current state of Denmark and supernatural events that unravel leading to Hamlet’s plot for revenge. The opening scenes foreshadow an unnatural event stirring with a cold and silent night epitomizing a mood of suspense. At father first, Hamlet’s trusting friend Horatio is wary about the truth of a ghost appearing but to his horror to the truth is apparent through the change of his tone. “It harrows me with fear and wonder” (Page 5). Horatio and Marcellus debacle about the figure concluding it may be the late King Hamlet, ruler of Demark. The ghost itself is a motif that foreshadows trouble for Denmark. The confronting image of the ghost was shocking to the audience as it was believed within the Elizabethan era to be consequential. Marcellus and Horatio discuss the events of Denmark’s preparation for war as a result of invasion by Fortinbras of Norway. It was said to be that King Hamlet killed Fortinbras’ father attaining land that Fortinbras now desires to retrieve. The natural order was disrupted with King Hamlet’s sudden death impacting the Danish society that was evident in the Elizabethan era. It was important to have a structured society and have a strict hierarchy of class whom Shakespeare had incorporated into his paly.…

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Hamlet as a Madman
    • 1436 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Hamlet as a Madman

    The ghost provides Hamlet with a dilemma. Supernatural forces are not always to be trusted. Hamlet does not know whether the ghost is telling the truth or not, which is why he has ‘The Mousetrap’ performed by the visiting players. If Hamlet had killed Claudius solely on the ghost’s advise, he would certainly have been put to death himself. There would probably have been a civil war to choose a new king. Being the humanitarian that he is, and taking account of his responsibilities as a prince and future king, Hamlet would most likely want to avoid a civil war. Even though Claudius is a murderer, and probably not as noble a king as Hamlet Sr. was, he is still a king. Hamlet realizes that Claudius brings order to Denmark and in killing him he will plunge his country into the darkness of chaos.…

    • 1436 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Hamlet's Madness
    • 1974 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Hamlet's Madness

    Gertrude, Claudius, Polonius and others base their convictions of Hamlet's insanity on his belief of the presence of a ghost. They are wrongfully condemning his guilt, because not only do others see the ghost, but also it makes a statement of its need to see Hamlet, and only him. Gertrude denied sight of the ghost of King Hamlet a few times throughout the play, but that is not true with everyone. Marcellus and Barnardo saw the ghost initially, and though they were unsure who the figure was, the two men were smart enough to find a more scholarly and cultured man to judge the identity of the figure. The play opens with Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo watching for the spirit. Horatio is skeptical at first, but after seeing the former king, he finds his friend Hamlet, and tells him what happened. That is the first time we meet the young Hamlet. He is confused and troubled upon hearing the news, but does not hesitate in volunteering to go see for himself. When they arrive at the tower and see the ghost, Horatio and Marcellus try to keep their friend Hamlet from going along with it. They knew so little about the image; it could very well have been a war omen, or a demon. After he is certain that the figure is the Dane, and not a demon, Hamlet converses with it. His father tells…

    • 1974 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics