The Hamlet Podcast Episode 03 - Enter Ghost
Aug 27, 2017
Exploring the significance of the ghost in Hamlet, its uniqueness compared to other plays, and its possible influences from earlier works. Discussing how the ghost is pointed out to Horatio and his questioning of its identity. Highlighting the scenes on the battlements and Horatio's encounter with the ghostly king.
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Opening Scene Sets Rules And Tension
- Shakespeare uses the opening scene to establish setting, rules, and to build anticipatory tension quickly.
- A sudden stage direction like "Enter Ghost" immediately changes the play's world and stakes.
Shakespeare's Ghosts Carry Weight
- Ghosts in Shakespeare appear rarely but with strong narrative function, often as murder victims seeking something.
- Hamlet uses its ghost more intricately than prior plays, complicating who perceives it and why.
Hamlet's Complicated Textual History
- The Hamlet story derives from Saxo Grammaticus and a French translation by François de Belleforest in the 1570s.
- There may have been an earlier 'Ur-Hamlet' possibly by Thomas Kyd influencing Shakespeare's version.