The Ghost Scene Commentary Notes

• In Act 1, scene 5

• Ghost of his father tells Hamlet that he was murdered by poison poured into his ear by Claudius

• The Ghost tells him to seek revenge on Claudius and leave the judgment of his mother to heaven

• The ghost doubts the queens self morals and dignity

• Shakespeare uses numerous literary devices to express the ghost’s state of mine.  Such examples are listing, caesuras, alliterations, juxtapositions, similes, metaphors, contrasts and figurative imagery

• The ghost criticizes Claudius through listing.  Hamlet labels him as an “adulterate beast, with witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, o wicked wit and gifts, that have the power so to seduce!” – alliteration there too, which emphasizes to Claudius’ betrayal of his brother

• Using the words “O” and “Ay” emphasizes the extreme emotions (sorrowful and angry) of the ghost

• The exclamation marks emphasize the ghosts anger – caesuras

• The ghost contrasts his “natural gifts” to that of Claudius’ – The King was seen to be more loyal

o   “Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor. To those of mine!”

§  Claudius: cheap relationship

§  Hamlet: loyal

• Juxtaposition:

o   “Though lewdness (bad comings) court it in a shape of heaven”

§  Meaning/purpose: the ghost claims to Hamlet that his fathers murder was an unjust debt

§  Virtue and lust: Gertrude (his mother)

•  Juxtaposition:

o   “Celestial bed” – heaven, pure : juxtaposed to …

o   …“Prey on garbage.”  - The Ghost denounces his queen in bitter terms,

§  Garbage is a metaphor for Claudius’ personality/behavior

• From lines 65-87, the Ghost explains the story of the Kings death

•  Figurative imagery: “I scent the morning air”  - setting the scene with an innocent and pure mood – which implies that the peace will be interrupted later on

• Juxtaposition:

o   “Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole”

§  Meaning/purpose: highlights the dreadful act of Claudius , disturbing the Kings peace

• Simile:

o   “That swift as quicksilver (poison- mercury) through the natural gates and alleys of the body” demonstrates that the poison rapidly killed the King

o   “And curd, like eager (acid) droppings into milk” portrays the image of acid poured into the kings ears and the influence on his blood

•     Figurative Imagery:

o   “Instant tetter barked about”- refers to immediate blisters that appeared on the Kings skin from the poison

•  “O, horrible! O, horrible! Most horrible!” – repetition underscores both the ghosts suffering and what was taken from him

• The Ghost lists his dispositions…“of life, of crown, of queen”

o   This was done to portray the extent of the Kings losses because of his death

• The line with all my imperfections on my head” signifies that the Ghost is no longer superior

• The repetition of “O horrible” stresses the Ghosts feelings towards his own death