"Hamlet" and the Ghost

Paper Summary:

Traditionally the role of the ghost in Elizabethan plays was to act as the messenger. In this paper about "Hamlet", the ghost of Hamlet's father is portrayed as a messenger of his own death and represents the vengeful spirit. The ghost in this case has a much more specific role than is generally seen in Elizabethan plays. The writer presents that this ghost is a crucial part of the play and manipulates the plot to its tragic end. The paper covers the themes of Hamlets delay in seeking revenge for his fathers death, the relationship between father and son, the nature of the ghost and Hamlet's insanity. In the conclusion the writer explains that it is through the influence of the ghost that Hamlet is shown his full range of human attributes and thus a meaning is attached to his life.

From the Paper:

"The role of the ghost in the Elizabethan play was a familiar occurrence in this tradition. A ghost would usually act as a messenger. In Hamlet the ghost of Hamlet's father acts as a messenger of his own death and as a representative of the vengeful spirit. Thus in Hamlet the ghost has a more specific role than is generally the case in Elizabethan plays. This ghost, as will be seen, is a crucial part of the play, and manipulates the plot to its tragic end".

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