Though Hamlet was written to express the tragedy of a kingdom, it also acted as an impression of the times, showing the beliefs and manners of a 12th century Denmark. The ghost, the banquet in the first act, the tragic soliloquys, Danish customs of the court, and the play in act 3 are all examples of social occasions and interactions within the play that exemplify the beliefs and manners of 12th century Denmark.

The appearance of the ghost in the first scene gives the opportunity for the audience to not only understand the characters, but also understand the recent death of King Hamlet and the historical conflict Denmark has had with its fellow Scandinavian Poland. The ghost acts as a beacon to the era, giving us knowledge of the the society in which the characters live without blatantly doing so. Another occasion when the ghost plays a role to help the audience

Danish society reflects itself in the initial banquet of the King in scene 2 of act 1. The king is not questioned, rather greeted and unquestioned about the death of the old king. The Queen, knowing her court's Danish customs, accepts the marriage of the King with very little expressive remorse because it may come across as treason in Danish society. In the banquet scene, we are also exposed to the structure and lives of the people of the court. For example, through Laertes and Hamlet, we see how often the youth travel abroad to gain knowledge and education. ). Hamlet's subsequent soliloquy at the end of this scene, after the banquet, establishes his melancholy and desperation over his father's death, and also shows the importance of religion and sin when Hamlet questions suicide and its status as a sin.

Hamlet, not only a literary masterpiece constructed by the theatrical mind of William Shakespeare, but

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Approximate Word count = 616
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)