The Importance of the Ghost Scene in Hamlet

A detailed Summary of The Importance of the Ghost Scene in Hamlet


Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, is one of the most universally admired and

discussed works of literature in the English language. It is about Hamlet, the popular

young prince of Denmark, who returns from school because of the news of his father's

death, and finds that his uncle, Claudius, has married his mother and is now King.

Hamlet is upset by the death of his father, as well as his mother's hasty and incestuous

marriage. To add to his distress, he later finds out that his uncle actually killed his father,

and that his father's ghost wants him to avenge his death. Hamlet resolves to get his

revenge on Claudius, and then inexplicably puts it off for the rest of the play. During this

time Hamlet acts more and more insane, killing Polonius, behaving cruelly towards his

mother and Ophelia, and making dangerous enemies of Claudius and Laertes. The story

line culminates in a bloody duel scene in which Hamlet, Laertes, Claudius, and Gertrude

are killed. One of the most important scenes in the play, one that would devastate the

play's narrative if it were to be taken out, is the scene in which Hamlet is confronted by

the ghost of his father, who tells him of his gristly murder, and Hamlet's obli


Claudius wouldn't have plotted to send him to his death in England, and Laertes wouldn't

that it will speak to Hamlet. When the ghost sees Hamlet it beacons him away from

killed herself. If he had not been responsible for the deaths of Ophelia and Polonius,

Hamlet, as well as giving us insight into the true nature of other characters, such as

so many characters perished. If the ghost had never spoken to Hamlet its possible that



Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 877
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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