What is the significance of the ghost in Hamlet?

Shakespearean Plays Questions



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What is the significance of the ghost in Hamlet?

The significance of the ghost in Hamlet is that it serves as a catalyst for the entire plot of the play. The ghost of Hamlet's father appears to him and reveals that he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius, who has now married Hamlet's mother and become the king. This revelation sets Hamlet on a path of revenge and fuels his internal conflict throughout the play. The ghost also represents the theme of the supernatural and the uncertainty of the afterlife, adding a sense of mystery and intrigue to the story.