Character Development in Hamlet Essay

As a story traditionally develops, so do the characters. This statement is incredibly true in William Shakespeares play, Hamlet. Hamlet is a story that centers on a sons lust for revenge after his father, King Hamlet, is murdered by his brother, Claudius. Every character develops as the play continues to progress, and the attention that is drawn to them illuminates issues of central importance to the play as a whole. The ghost of Hamlet falls into this predicament.

The ghost of Hamlet is an extremely important character for many reasons. Without the ghost of Hamlet in the play, in theory, the entire play wouldnt even exist. There are three different scenes where the ghost appears to the other characters. The first time the ghost appears is in Act I Scene I where Bernado, Francisco, Horatio, and Marcellus are standing on watch and they see a mysterious figure. This figure happens to be the ghost of Hamlet. The guards are instantly frieghtened. They realize it is the ghost of the late King, but they do not know whether it is sent by God or by the Devil. In the same figure like the King thats dead. (Hamlet Line 46 1.1) The apparition of the late King is never really resolved whether it is a good or bad one, even after the conclusion of the play. The Kings ghost does not speak at all to Horatio or the guards. They decide that the only person who will really be able to figure out what the apparition is would be the son of the deceased King, Prince Hamlet. Let us impart what we have seen tonight unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, this spirit dumb to us will speak to him. (Hamlet Line 185 1.1). The spiritual being gives the readers a mysterious insight to the events that have currently taken place. For example, the only reason a ghost comes back to the living realm, is if some horrible action has taken place, and the ghost wants revenge (almost always has to do with murder). The ghost of Hamlet introduces the theme of revenge. Ironically enough, the entire play is based on revenge and this is the first time that we, the readers, see the theme introduced. If the Ghost of Hamlet never existed, then the entire play would have never even occurred

The second time the ghost of Hamlet appears is in Act One Scene Five. Hamlet is alerted by the guards that they believe that they have encountered the ghost of King Hamlet. Hamlet decides to investigate the situation for himself. Horatio and Marcellus accompany Hamlet as he goes to see the ghost for himself. The ghost appears, but does not say a word to Hamlet. Hamlet leaves Horation and Marcellus to talk to his father's spirit alone. The ghost of Hamlet then says, "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." (Hamlet Line 29 1.5). He also says, "....The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown." (Hamlet Lines 44-45 1.5). After hearing this lines from the spirit of his father, Hamlet is in shock, as well as rage. Hamlet was under the impression he died under normal circumstances and not murdered by his Uncle Claudius, by dripping ear poison into his ears. At first he doesn't believe what the ghost said right away, because he believes his credibility is in question. He then performs a play to determine the crediablity of his father's ghost. He also pretends to be insane in order to prevent people from figuring out his true intentions. This allows the plot to develop and introduce all the other characters as Hamlet's goal of vengence continues. He also expresses disgust at his wife, Gertrude, for marrying Claudius, but warns Hamlet not to confront her, but to leave that to Heaven. Without the ghost of Hamlet, the play wouldn't even exist, or play out at in the same manner. Without the ghost, these characters wouldn't be able to develop, and the main and consistent theme of revenge wouldn't be relevant to the story line.

The third and final time the ghost of Hamlet appears is in Act 3 Scene 4. Hamlet is confronted by the ghost in his mother's bedroom, and is rebuked for not carrying out his revenge and for disobeying in talking with Gertrude. Hamlet fearfully apologizes. Gertrude, however, cannot see the ghost, and thinks Hamlet is mad, asking why he stares and talks to nothing. The ghost of Hamlet says, "Do not forget. This visitation Is but to whet they almost blunted purpose. But look, amazement on thy mother sits. Oh step between her and her fighting soul. Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works. Speak to her Hamlet." (Hamlet Lines 122-127 3.4). The ghost says this as Hamlet starts to engage in conversation with his mother. Hamlet reacts by responding to the ghost and his mother asks who he is talking to. Hamlet responds by saying "Did you see nothing here? Nor did you not nothing hear?" (Hamlet Lines 145-147 3.4). Clearly this incident causes Hamlet to appear more crazy than he originally intended. His mother thinks that he has lost his mind and this wouldn't have occurred if it wasn't for the ghost of Hamlet. For the third time, Hamlet's father implies that revenge must take place and his father's death cannot be in vain. The ghost of Hamlet is reinforcing the idea of death into the character. Without the ghost of Hamlet, perhaps the lives lost at the end of the play could have potentially been spared.

In conclusion, without the ghost of Hamlet as a character in the play, Hamlet, the story would be a very different one. The ghost of Hamlet allows the idea of revenge develop throughout the play and reinforces it in the protagonist, Hamlet. If the ghost of Hamlet wasn't written into the play, Hamlet never would of discovered the truth behind the death of his father. The ghost of Hamlet allows us to see Hamlet develop as a character and as a man as his desire for revenge increases. We also learn that he feels that it is his obligation to avenge his father. Revenge is clearly one of the main themes and is brought back into the picture everytime the ghost appears. The ghost of Hamlet is the drive for his son to strike back at his Uncle. However, at the end of the play, we learn that revenge can lead to nothing positive. It can only lead to sadness, death, and remorse. Perhaps, if human beings could take Hamlet, and learn from it - the world would be a safer, and a happier place to live in.