Act I Scene 5 Hamlet encounters the ghost of his father

Part 3 "Angels and ministers of grace defend us."
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http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=5mJOUKXPWVI&feature=related

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The wedding of Claudius, Hamlet's Uncle, to Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, occurred very quickly after the funeral of his father. Hamlet and Horatio find this curious.
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Should Hamlet speak to the ghost - is it the spirit of his father of a demon from hell that will lead him into madness?

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Act I Scene 4, lines 44-53

Hamlet:
It will not speak. Then will I follow it.
Horatio:
Do not, my lord.
Hamlet:
Why, what should be the fear?
I do not set my life at a pin's fee,
And for my soul, what can it do to that,
Being a thing immortqal as itself?
It waves me forth. I'll follow it.
Horatio:
What if it tempt you toward the flood my lord
Or to dreadful summit of the cliff
That beetles o'er his base into the sea,
And there assume some horrible form
Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
And draw you into madness? Think of it.


Part 4 The ghost describes his murder
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=h5rbFVTTQdg&feature=related

The official story is that Hamlet's father was "stung" by a snake sleeping in his orhard Hamlet
The ghost claims his brother Claudius poured poison into his ear

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Comments

Hamlet's meeting with the ghost is full of trepidation. The play represents the protestant belief that some ghosts are manifestations of demons from hell. They are sent by the devil to lead people foolish enough to engage them into madness.

It is important to note that at the time of Shakespeare his theatre was theatened with closure by the reigning protestant authorities who considered it immoral. Shakespeare's insistence on this idea may have been added to appease the authorities.

It nevertheless has considerable value to the play adding to the tension of the encounter between Hamlet and the spirit, but also to the theme of certainty.


Hamlet:
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in our philosophy,


cf

Friar Lawrence:
A greater power than we can contradictHath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.

Romeo and Juliet, Act V Scene 3

The ghost of Old King Hamlet & Ghosts and their Behaviour

The class will ask you to answer the following questions:

1. Why does Bernado ask Horatio to speak to the ghost?
2. How was the ghost dressed?
3. Is the ghost the spirit of the dead King Hamlet? Are you sure? This is important.
4. How did Fortinbras lose his lands to old King Hamlet?
5. What is young Fortinbras planning to do about these lands?
6. What is the reason for all the activity in the shipyards and for their watch?
7. The ghost appears a second time and Horatio blocks its path and challenges it to speak- according to the belief of the day, what could happen to Horatio?
8. What happens as soon as the cock crows?
   What does Marcellus say about the cock, the planets and Christmas? Why do you think he tells this story?