The Importance of the Ghost in Hamlet

The Importance of The Ghost in Hamlet The ambiguity that is presented in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, has been one of the main factors that has allowed the play to be one of the most discussed piece in English Literature. One of the uncertainties that has been discussed is the purpose of the ghost of Hamlet’s father. This has led critics to explore and analyze the Ghost’s nature as well as its importance. Some critics suggest that the Ghost’s main purpose is to confirm Hamlet’s suspicions about Claudius and also to set the plot into motion. Critics have also discussed whether the Ghost really exist or if it’s an hallucination. The Ghost’s importance and the direct affect it has on characters does not minimize with it’s short appearance within the play. While, the Ghost only appears in two scenes, it still manages to have some sort of affect on the characters, especially Hamlet. For one, the Ghost is the one who orders Hamlet to seek his revenge by killing Claudius. Keeping in mind the time period, the Shakespearean audience would of thought that revenge was a sin, with their Catholic beliefs, thus having the idea that the Ghost may be evil. In a way, this also causes confusion within Hamlet, either seeking out revenge for his father’s death or following his Catholic beliefs. He wants to avenge his father, but his beliefs leads unable to slay Claudius, while Claudius is praying. Since, Hamlet believes that Claudius has repented, he also believes that if he kills Claudius, Claudius would go to heaven and not suffer like his father, who did not have a chance to repent his sins. Instead, Hamlet waits so that Claudius “knows thou a more horrid hent” (3.3.88). Ironically, Tiffany Grace states that “Ghost's plea for vengeance nearly results in Claudius's Christian repentance” (Grace 3). The Ghost gives Hamlet a reason to be indecisive and keeps him thinking rather than acting, which delays his plans. At first, it appears that Hamlet truly believes that the Ghost is his late father’s spirit and it also seems that Hamlet is going to go through the plan of avenging his father. Hamlet, at one point, doubts the Ghost’s identity, coming to the conclusion that “the spirit… may be a devil” (2.2.610-611). He is aware that spirit may be an evil one, as he calls for “angels and ministers of grace” (1.3.39), to “defend us”. Despite this, Hamlet is unable to resist being lured towards the Ghost, which shows signs of him unable to resist temptation as well as having the need to know the truth. The doubt is also created by even the simplest of things, such as Horatio referring to the Ghost as “it” and not “he”. An example of this is when Horatio says “it beckon you to go away with it” (1.4.58), he also “first reference to the ghost as "this thing" (1.1.24)” (Evans 4). Still, the doubt that Hamlet has towards the Ghost leads the reader to do the same and question, which, in turn, helps the reader relate with Hamlet. This also creates the obscurity that surrounds the Ghost. The doubtfulness also creates the question of whether the Ghost is “real” or if it’s an hallucination. Even though, the Ghost was seen by Horatio, during the opening act, the Queen was not able to see it, which lead some critics to think that the Ghost is an hallucination, much like it was in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Though, other critics argue that because Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo, the Ghost is real and it is only appearing to those that it wants to appear to. Not only does the Ghost influence Hamlet’s actions, but he also has part in influencing the characters. Queen Gertrude, for example, came to a conclusion that Hamlet may indeed be mad, when the Ghost appeared for the second time. It becomes clear that the Queen cannot see the spirit when she asks Hamlet, “to whom do you speak this?” (3.4.133). The Ghost, could also be tied to Polonius’s death. The Ghost’s plot to avenge himself, led Hamlet seek the truth, which got Polonius killed. In way, the Ghost functioned as the audience’s point of view. He knew the same information the reader knew. Also, because of the Ghost’s wanting revenging, he did cause the demise of Hamlet, who died by poison, just like himself. The Ghost main function, is to tell Hamlet who the villain is and also to set the play in action. He influences Hamlet, triggering the idea of revenge, which eventually leads to the death of Polonius, Claudius, Hamlet and possibly Ophelia. The Ghost also served as a “hook” to catch the audience’s attention. Since the audience at the time, believed in spirits, this would have been an effective way to capture their attention.