The Presence Of The Apparition In The Opening Scene Of William Shakespeare’s

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Term Paper Title	The Presence Of The Apparition In The Opening Scene Of William Shakespeare’s
# of Words	989
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	3.96

The presence of the apparition in the opening scene of William Shakespeare’s
Hamlet sets a macabre and eerie tone while emitting and foreshadowing a
theme of death.  In addition to the death theme the presence of the ghost
illuminates on the mystery surrounding the death of Hamlet’s father, the  King of
Denmark.  Often in literature the presence of a ghost indicates something left
unresolved.  In this case, the death of Hamlets father is the unresolved event as
well the revenge necessary to give the tormented soul repose.  The ghost
created mystery for the audience, spawns the chain of death and treachery in
Denmark, causes characters to question the death of their former king, and
makes the metaphysics of the play dark.
     The ghost says nothing despite the valiant efforts on the parts of Horatio,
Marcellus, and Bernardo.  Suspense is created when the audience is ignorant as
to the purpose of  the ghost.  Later in the play the ghost is utilized to allow
Hamlet and the audience knowledge of the vile murder of the king by Claudius,
the kings own brother.  When the ghost finally speaks, he tells Hamlet,
     “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
     Murder most foul, as in the best it is,
     But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.”(I.v.25-28)
These quotes let Hamlet as well as the audience know that the fathers death
was foul and unnatural contrary to popular belief.   The spirit then reveals the
murder to Hamlet by professing this:
     “A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark
     Is by a forged process of my death
     Rankly abused.  But know, thou noble youth,
     The serpent that did sting thy father’s life
     Now wears his crown.(I.v.35-39)

This statement not only reveals the culprit; it eludes to the manner in which the
king was assassinated.  Upon hearing this Hamlet and the audience realize who
the murderer is and how  the plot of vengeance will unfold.  Without the
apparition the beginning of the play would lack the supernatural and eerie aura
as well as the revelation of most wretched crime thus making the play bland and
meaningless.
     Although the ghost is apparently Hamlet’s father those who saw him were
fearful.  The reason behind this is that in the sixteenth century a ghost could be
a demon trying to deceive Hamlet rather than the soul of his murdered father.
     “The papists in former times have publicly both taught and written that
     those spirits which men sometimes see and hear be either good or bad
     angels, or else the souls of those w...

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