King Hamlet Research Paper

Despite appearing on only three separate occasions and only speaking during two of those occasions, the ghost of King Hamlet is still a major character who has a very large effect on Hamlet as a whole. King Hamlet’s presence in the play has a strong effect on developing the theme of revenge, as he encourages his son to deliver retribution to his killer, unfolding the depressing and morbid plot and action of the play, as his encouragement leads to the deaths of many characters, and developing the character of Hamlet, who nearly goes mad in his bipolar state as he struggles to ascertain the validity of what his father’s ghost tells him and revenge his death.

Without King Hamlet’s presence in the play, the major theme of revenge would not be present. It is King Hamlet’s ghost who begins Hamlet’s quest to avenge his father’s death when he (the ghost) says, “Revenge his foul and most

The ghost (of the king) asking Hamlet to do so leads to Hamlet trying to find out whether Claudius is guilty or not, which is a big part of the plot. Once Claudius is found to be guilty, Hamlet begins to act rather hastily. For example, when he hears a sound behind the tapestry in the chamber of his mother, without thinking things through, he yells, “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!” and stabs his sword at whatever made the sound. (3.iv.24) Doing so kills Polonius, who Hamlet thought to be Claudius. None of the events leading up to this point would have happened without the appearance of King Hamlet who ignites the flame to the action of the story. This flame of action grows significantly larger as the play continues, as tensions arise between Claudius, Hamlet, and the returning son of the late Polonius, Laertes. Eventually, nearly all main characters end up dead, something that wouldn’t have happened without the brief appearances of King