This paper is based on scene analysis of the play Hamlet by Shakespeare, the paper critically analyzes the “Ghost Hamlet “ in this drama, which is based on the Novel “The Norton Anthology World Literature”, authored by Sarah Lawall in 2009 and published by W. W. Norton publishers. Over the years this drama has been renowned for its content and has undergone criticism and many interpretations of variation and depiction of characters. However, the most critical criticism is like the ghost, of the main character’s father if it holds righteous merit or of an evil mentalist. This is so because of the year of the play by Shakespeare, the people of that era believed in ghosts and they also reported and confined with them.
In the scenes the ghost first appears to the two soldiers guarding the young Hamlet Marcellus and Barnados, this is to illustrate that the ghost comes to protect than to harm, and is observed by the dress code of the ghost itself, the ghost is seen to be wearing the attire of armor that Hamlet father the king wore when he defeated the ambitious old Fortinbras, king of Norway and also which he wore when he defeated the poles. This sums up the reason why the ghost first appeared to the guards for they knew of all these events and know the relationship to the attack as the son of Fortinbras swore to avenge his father’s death and also get back the land they lost from these battles. That is why the ghost wore this armor which is related to the event that started the whole scenario.
Secondly, the ghost appears to Hamlet’s best friend Horatio, whom the play sums up to be a very learned and intellectual person. The aim again for the ghost going first to Hamlet’s friend rather than first going straight to Hamlet, is a sign that the ghost knows that this friend to the son is a very credible and intelligent person and would help Hamlet evaluates the real agenda of the ghost and critically assess if the ghost airs up from heaven or blast straight from hell, the ghost uses Horatio intellects to help the son not to doubt much the origin of the ghost (Lawall). This the ghost has depicted because the son was grieving and was venerable at the moment. Grieving the loss of the father whom the son adored and meant the whole world also the confusion of acceptance of the uncle taking over the kingdom and the relationship they had with her mother did add up to the emotional distress on the young lad. The ghost had to be cautious when approaching the son; this is also seen in the bible the way Jesus after the resurrection did appear to the disciples with caution to gain their trust and understanding of the resurrection.
The ghost finally now appeared to the son and because the son is still grieving and is in shock does not believe it, an argument ensued to authenticate the merit of the ghost. The ghost tells Hamlet that it’s the father’s spirit that has come to relieve the son’s grieve by telling him the real truth behind his death, which the ghost says was murder most foul. The son now is fighting between believing the ghost or not. This is when the ghost tells Hamlet the person behind the murder is Hamlet Uncle Claudius. (“The serpent that stung your father now wears his crown”) which now makes Hamlet reason for the resentment he harbors about the uncle and their relationship with her mother which is also at logger’s head with his feeling of loathing for the uncle. Hamlet: “o thee my prophetic soul! My flesh and blood uncle!” (Hamlet: 1.3. 38-48) these facts prove the reality of the true nature of the ghost authenticity of being the spirit of the father, which is why the ghost claims that he is restrained to walk in the day due to; “for my days are confined to fast in fire” and this he is only allowed freedom in the night only. This is because of the purgatory nature of the ghost. This is why Hamlet has to kill the uncle to purify, the spirit of the father to achieve the holiness required to enter the joys of heaven. The purification is necessary as the Bible reveals in the books of Revelation 21: 27 “Therefore I tell you that nothing ordain as unclean shall enter before the presence of God in heaven”
The ghost now finally convinces the young Hamlet that it’s the spirit of Hamlet Senior the bereaved king. The sanity of Hamlet in the play is questioned by many as the ghost continues to reveal more about his murder but is relevant because of the other three witnesses. The involvement of the wife in the murder through the ghost shows compassion on her and advises Hamlet to let the heavens be her judge. “Rather than commit an act of revenge on your mother, leave her to heaven” this act of compassion is which alienates this ghost from evil, as the play proves that the ghost is mournful and emotional contrary to the devil who lacks guilt.
The ghost finally reveals its true agenda to Hamlet and helps the lad in the execution of the revenge which ends the play by Hamlet’s death and the uncle also being put to death for his evil malicious plots of killing Hamlet’s father.
The ghost in this play is trying to restore purgatory and reveal the truth behinds the murder of Hamlet father, the ghost is the spirit of the father thought it’s estranged from heaven due to the evil left in his kingdom, the ghost comes back to rectify this errors and help the son to get over the emotional grief that he is embedded in, and also learn the truth. The ghost from the happening may first seem evil but later its holiness is seen in the mournful and emotional it get into when addressing matters concerning his wife. These emotions eliminate the ghost from evil and its goodness is seen as the story is about morals that affect our daily lives, the act of faith, love, and holiness.
Work Cited
Lawall, Sarah. The Norton Anthology World Literature. New York: Norton. 2009. Print.