Hamlet a Tragedy Play

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- The Ghost tells him about his foul murder and murderer. This information develops Hamlet’s character immensely. He knows wants to stop at nothing to avenge his father no matter the cost.

- We also learn that Hamlet listens to what the ghost has to say. He commands Hamlet to only take revenge against King Claudius and leave his mother to God’s judgement. He agrees without any questions.

- We now have no doubts about the innocence of King Claudius’s character. He is a corrupt, power hungry villain.

Additional Literary Devices

- "Fast in fires till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purged away." He is using the word fire as a metaphor for purgatory.

- "The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown." Comparing Claudius to a snake.

- Allusion- “Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio” Saint Patrick thought to be the keeper of Purgatory, from where the Ghost has come. He was also the patron saint of confusion and mistakes. (Line 150)

- Simile and Hyperbole- “I could a tale unfold whose lighted word would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres, thy knotted and combined locks to part, and each particular hair to stand on end like quills upon the fearful porpentine” (Line 19-24)

Setting and Atmosphere

- The setting of the scene involves Hamlet running through the woods in the dark of the night. The atmosphere is a dark, chilling blue. With the dark blue atmosphere comes the ghost which only brings out more chills. The ghost links to the dark atmosphere tone. Overall this scene is very intense since the ghost reveals who murdered him.