Insane Use Of Ghost In Hamlet

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In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the ghost only appears four times throughout the play but has a major affect on Hamlet. The ghost’s presence is not always clear and only speaks to Hamlet in the story, which makes other characters think Hamlet is going crazy. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses the ghost to cause Hamlet to go insane and truly make people think he has gone insane.
First, Shakespeare uses the ghost to cause and make people think Hamlet has gone insane by telling him King Hamlet’s death is a due to Hamlet’s uncle Claudius poisoning him to obtain the crown. “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 …show more content…
The ghost saying “remember me,” really starts to trick Hamlet and make him go more insane. “Do not forget. This visitation is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.” (Shakespeare 3.4126-127) The ghost tells Hamlet to remember his goal is to kill Claudius as soon as possible, and he needs to fulfill that request. This quote also ties into the remember quote, for the reason that the ghost says do not forget, meaning do not forget about me and what my purpose of appearing here is. “Nothing at all; yet all that is I see. Nor did you hear nothing. No, nothing but ourselves.” (Shakespeare 3.4150-53) When the ghost appears a second time, he calms Hamlet, who might have harmed Gertrude during their discussion. When Gertrude witnesses this, she only sees Hamlet talking to the air and truly believes he is going crazy. This is a sign that over time, Hamlet has truly gone insane. “This is the very coinage of your brain. This bodiless creation ecstasy is very cunning in.” (Shakespeare 3.4157-59) Not only does the phantom say Hamlet must claim revenge, but there is detail that Hamlet can see and hear the spirit, while his …show more content…
If it had not been for the ghost making Hamlet go insane by telling him he needed revenge for his father’s death, the tragedy of killings at the end probably could have been avoided. King Hamlet’s ghost contributed to a good portion in the conclusion of the play. The ghost’s first appearance established the dilemma and gave Hamlet time to think about his father’s request. This is the initial action that starts the significance of the play. Without this occurring, Hamlet would have no proof and no place to start from in his search for clues, he could have only suspected his uncle of foul play. After Hamlet failed to fulfil that request, the spirit came back during Hamlet’s conversation with his mother Gertrude and pushed him to act again on his vengeance. When Claudius poisoned the drink and Gertrude sips from it, is when Hamlet pushes his mental health over the edge. Hamlet makes his uncle drink the rest of the toxic beverage and being very thorough, he penetrates his uncle with his dagger. The next person to die is Laertes, and then Hamlet, but not before saying, “The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit. I cannot live to hear the news from England. But I do prophesy th’ election lights on Fortinbras; he has my dying voice. So tell him, with th’ occurrents, more or less, which have solicited- the rest is silence.” (5.2390-395) Just as the ghost asked him, Hamlet finally fulfilled his
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