Ghosts and Revenge in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

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Is the ghost legit or not?

While referring to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a number of contradictions occur concerning the legitimacy and reliability of the ghost noticed by Horatio in the first scene. Despite the common beliefs concerning the existence of ghosts, it seems that the ghost’s presence is still supported by the testimonies of all characters in the story, including Horatio, Francisco, and the protagonist himself. Nevertheless, Hamlet hesitates whether his father’s ghost is “…spirit of health, or goblin damn’d…” (Shakespeare 14). Doubts expressed by Hamlet, therefore, uncover his emotional state that seems to be unstable.

Are ghosts real? What happens in afterlife? Is there an order that “shapes our ends”? Does that punish the guilty?

Despite the fact that human soul was symbolically represented in different cultures, there is still a common assumption that the soul is a precise reproduction of the human body. Numerous books and artifacts provide evidence for deceased people appeared in the afterlife in the way they looked before they died, including clothes. In Hamlet, however, the king’s shade seems to deviate from the commonly established outlooks on spirits due to the emerged inconsistencies. In particular, purgatorial spirits striving reconciliation are not supposed to incite living people to crimes or revenge, as it can be seen in the play.

Is revenge correct or not?

Hamlet’s inability to take control of his emotions and anger leads to many deaths in the play, which makes the revenge ineffectual. Judging from the events, the protagonist is unable to take resolute actions and take revenge on Claudius and, as a result, the action delays until the end of the tragedy. More importantly, the presented action differs significantly from the Elizabethan revenge plays. The delay in action makes the revenge untypical and incorrect and, therefore, Shakespeare’s play is a remarkable piece providing a unique vision on the concept of revenge itself. In particular, the playwright intends to emphasize the importance of the revenge for the hero because the main idea of the plot centers on this particular event.

Does Hamlet revenge because of cowardice when Claudius prays?

The delay of the revenge is explained by Hamlet’s willingness to take vengeance on Claudius properly. Therefore, the hero changes his mind to kill Claudius because of the fear of Claudius going up to Heaven while praying. Psychological and emotional aspects can also be involved into the explanation for Hamlet’s actions. Specifically, the protagonist seems to be not ready for committing a crime because there is a rigid confrontation between the reality and the spiritual world. Hamlet cannot understand whether his visions are true.

Did Gertrude know Claudius killed old Hamlet?

While analyzing the tragedy, certain misconceptions allow to believe that Gertrude can be considered an accomplice of her husband’s murder. Hamlet finds out about his father’s murder from the ghost who states, “…the serpent, that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown” (Shakespeare 17). Thought the spirit does not implicate his wife into the crime and, therefore, Hamlet is not told to take revenge on his mother. In fact, there is no evidence concerning Gertrude’s ignorance of the murder. Second, the play does not introduce any Gertrude’s soliloquies concerning her guilt and suffering. Her behavior and words also stipulate her indifference to her husband’s death.

More about Hamlet

What plot event prompts Hamlet to become suspicious and resentful?

686

Which excerpt from act 5 of Hamlet best provides evidence of the rules of society are often based on wealth and power rather than fairness?

277

What is the Climax of Hamlet?

4.4

7911

What best describes Hamlet’s view of death?

1335

Where does Claudius send Cornelius and Voltimand? Why?

1744

In act 1, scene 1, which character does Shakespeare use most to create suspense?

2357

Is Hamlet mad or only apparently so?

The problem of recognizing whether Hamlet was crazy is explained by the fact that the hero decides to take a crazy action, but on purpose. He hacks his uncle and mother by trying to prove Claudius’s guilt for his father’s death. At the same time, Hamlet’s actions are still emotionally unstable judging from his behavior. Hence, the hero becomes the reason for his friends being dead; he is also responsible for the death of his beloved Ophelia, as well as Polonius’ murder. Finally, Hamlet commits suicide at the end of the tragedy.

What the speech in III, iv, 183 to Gertrude mean with its crazy double negatives?

In Act III Scene 4, Hamlet confronts his mother and criticizes her for the indifference to his father’s death. Hamlet goes on answering back to Gertrude’s acquittals, by saying, “you are the queen, you husband’s brother’s wife” (Shakespeare 15). The phrase implies criticism of Gertrude; Hamlet does not want the queen who betrayed her husband to be his mother. In response, Gertrude believes that her son has forgotten that she is his mother. Nevertheless, Hamlet continues to reject to Gertrude’s status by telling her to look at the mirror of her soul. He wants her to reveal the truth and her actual feelings concerning his father’s death.

Can we “get” Hamlet, the play and the character, by tracing the five soliloquies?

Hamlet’s soliloquies unveil depression concerning his father’s death, as well as his indignation pertaining his mother’s quick recovery from his husband’s murder. The monologues also express the protagonist’s intention to commit suicide.

At this point, the first monologue presented in Act I scene ii reveals Hamlet’s grief as per his father’s death. The second one provided in Act II scene ii, exposes dual nature of the character because the author reveals Hamlet’s both fear and passion for taking revenge. The remaining soliloquies, along with the most famous one, disclose Hamlet’s searching for the self and his disappointment with the corruption existing in his country. All people are deceptive and it is difficult to find the truth.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet: A Tragedy. US: Publishers for the Proprietors. 1818, Print.

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