On a symbolic level there is a sense that something is not right and w feeling
of unease, especially portrayed through the character of Fransisco. We later find out
that the ‘divine right of kings’ has gone adrift as Hamlet should be the king not
Claudius and this therefore will confirm Fransisco’s bad feelings.
The frequent use of punctuation such as exclamation marks and commas are
used to suggest jumpiness. “Stand, Ho! Who is there?” The comma is used as a pause
to create tension and the exclamation marks shows Fransisco’s alarm.
Horatio takes a very sceptical view and rational perspective on the situation,
“What has this thing appeared again tonight?” but this line does however build up
tension and is the first indication to the audience that something unusual has taken
place. Horatio is a scholar and when the ghost appears it is said to look like the king, “
majesty of buried Denmark,” Yet it is noted that Horatio does not say the ghost is the
king, this would create the feeling in intense mystery- as for the ghost to take the
shape of the king would be considered blasphemy as the king would be supposedly
chosen by God. Horatio tells Barnardo that the ghost looks like the deceased King
Hamlet, also known as Old Hamlet. Horatio sees that the ghost was dressed the same
way as King Hamlet was when he defeated King Fortinbras of Norway. ‘Where’h the
ambitious Norway combated.’ The story is that King Hamlet went to Norway and
fought Fortinbras in single combat. The loser agreed to yield all his land to the other
king. However, in the time since King Hamlet died, the son of King Fortinbras,
known as young Fortinbras, has been gathering together troops and is threatening to
attack Denmark. The tone used shows how the ghost has a very dramatic effect on
Horatio. The king could well be very worried about Denmark’s safety from Norway,
and this reason for his appearance would therefore be a warning. In the play the ghost
disappears but later returns; this would be to keep up the intensity and drama to the
audience. Horatio begs the ghost to speak to him, which shows his bravery and
his ability to take action.
‘That may also do thee to ease, and grace to me,” shows that the living will
help the dead by burying the body and this will credit Horatio, “Forethknowing may
avoid” goes back to Horatio’s theory that the ghost could help save Denmark. The
audience are persuaded to believe this. Just as it seems the ghost is about to say
something, a cock crows and the ghost disappears. Horatio tells Marcellus that he will
inform young Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark and the son of King Hamlet, that a
ghost keeps appearing in the shape of his father. Marcellus knows where young
Hamlet is and leaves with Horatio to find him.
The reader should remember that the Elizabethan audience believed in ghosts, and
normally they represent the spirit of God as opposed to witches, who were sent by the
devil. The appearance of ghosts could convey a variety of meanings. In this instance,
the appearance of this particular ghost, dressed in his armour signifies that he could
also be a soldier returning to complete a task. There are clearly religious undertones
this play, and scholars argue whether it represents Shakespeare’s own Roman
Catholic point of view, and he uses Hamlet to express this in Protestant Elizabethan
England.
The bulk of the play takes place within the walls of Elsinore Castle, which
Hamlet later describes as a prison. The walls of the castle will witness many cruel
deeds, which will have a dramatic influence on all those contained within the walls.
