ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The ghost of Hamlet’s father is a character from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. In the stage directions he is referred to as “Ghost". His name is also Hamlet, and he is referred to as King Hamlet to distinguish him from the Prince, his son and the protagonist of the story.

Detailed explanation-2: -Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 5. Back on the parapet-the outer walls of Castle Elsinore-Hamlet follows the Ghost, who admits that he is the spirit of King Hamlet and tells his son to hear him out. His time is short before he must return to Purgatory.

Detailed explanation-3: -Having been murdered by his brother, he wanders the night, waiting for a chance to speak with his son. As he was unable to confess to his sins before death, he lives in Purgatory during the day. He charges Hamlet to revenge his murder, and when the prince takes too long about it reappears to spur him on.

Detailed explanation-4: -The ghost tells Hamlet that he is, in fact, the ghost of his dead father. And there’s more: the ghost claims that Claudius killed him, taking his throne and his wife in the process. He wants Hamlet to kill Claudius in revenge. Shocked, Hamlet agrees and vows to avenge his father’s death.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Ghost drops his bombshell: not only is he the spirit of Young Hamlet’s dead father, but Old Hamlet was murdered. Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange and unnatural.