An Analytical Essay on Hamlet as Ghost Story, Detective Story and Revenge Story :: The Tragedy of Hamlet Essays

An Analytical Essay on Hamlet as Ghost Story, Detective Story and Revenge Story William Shakespeares play Hamlet, is a signature story, a detective story and a revenge story all within one plot. Throughout the play, qualities of all three types of stories are displayed. The ghost story consists of Hamlet Senior and the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise at the hands of the present King, Claudius. He is being tortured in hell until his death is properly avenged. The detective aspect of Hamlet is brought about by Hamlet trying to figure out whether or not his fathers ghost was real and also to what, if any extent, his mother the virtuous Queen Gertrude was involved with the murder of his Father. Both Hamlet and Laertes, function yet another aspect to this most diverse play, by seeking revenge for their fathers death, each in their own way. By viewing the play as either one or all of these diverse aspects we learn to have different perspectives on the play. The story of Hamlet Seniors death is the ghost story aspect of the play. Hamlet Senior, the late king, was being tormented in hell throughout the daylight hours and during the night he was forced to walk the castle. He stated that he was Doomd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confind to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my being the late Kings days of nature Are burnt and purgd away (50 lines 10-13). His release from this torture would not be permitted until his avenger is retaliated against by his son. Hamlet, Francisco and Bernardo all see the ghost of the late king, but the apparition will only speak to his son. The ghost brings an unnatural tincture to the drama and leaves the reader/viewer wondering if it was real or all in Hamlets mind. Hamlet is made to do some detective work in this melodrama. His first order of business was to figure out if the ghost of his father that he thought he saw, was in fact real and if it was, was it unfeigned or a demon. Then, he must decide if the ghost of his father was truthful about Claudius, his fathers brother, Hamlets uncle who was also the reigning King, committing fratricide against his father. To find evidence of Claudius involvement, Hamlet uses the players, to bring about his uncles deep seated feelings hopefully lodged in his conscience.