Character Hamlet, Ghost, and Horatio Character Analysis

¶ … Character Hamlet, Ghost, and Horatio

Character analysis of Hamlet, Ghost, Horatio: Act 1, Scenes 1-5

The story of Hamlet is so famous, it is easy to forget that at the beginning of the play, Hamlet is unaware of the fact that his father was murdered by his uncle. Hamlet begins the play a depressed, angry young man who is barely able to conceal the fact that he despises his new stepfather for marrying his mother so soon after his beloved father's demise. However, he has no proof that his uncle did anything wrong at first. In fact, the main problem seems to be Hamlet's attitude: he is wearing black and is entirely removed from the merriment of the rest of the court. He barely acknowledges Claudius and makes an effort to go back to Wittenberg so he can study, but his mother begs him to stay. When he says: "I shall in all my best obey you, madam," he excludes Claudius from his reply, even though Gertrude begs him on behalf of 'us' (I.2).

Thus Hamlet is a young man who is determined to reveal the truth he sees from the very first speech he makes and who has a strong sense of moral propriety, at least regarding the sexual conduct of his mother. "But I have that within which passeth show; / These but the trappings and the suits of woe," he says, stressing that the mourning clothing he is wearing are inadequate to fully indicate his feelings for his dead father. Even before he learns of the crime that caused his father's death, Hamlet clearly sees himself as a truth-teller. He refuses to forget the ugliness of the past. Thus when Horatio informs him that his father's ghost has been seen, although Hamlet is agitated, he is not entirely surprised. He has already suspected that there is something evil and rotten afoot, given the moral corruption he sees around him.

If it were not for the testimony of others, because of Hamlet's hatred of his uncle, it might be tempting to assume that the vision of the ghost was a product of Hamlet's imagination, rather than a real event. However, the fact that Horatio saw Old Hamlet's ghost gives credence to the reports of Marcellus and Bernardo. Horatio is presented as a calm, steady, and respected character. In fact, Marcellus says, "Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio" (I.1). The character of Horatio thus gives support to Hamlet's conception of the ghost as true and his uncle as evil, even though Horatio never directly speaks to the ghost.

As a character, the ghost is less complex and fully developed than Hamlet. He functions more as a plot device rather than as a three-dimensional person. He urges Hamlet to revenge his death, and describes how the unusual event took place in detail. Hamlet follows the ghost even after he is warned by Horatio that it might be an evil spirit determined to lead him to his death, but he is cautious as he says "where wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no further" when the ghost demands to speak privately with him (I.5). Despite his reservations, Hamlet sympathizes with the ghost, calling it "poor ghost" and his overall demeanor indicates that he believes the ghost is the true, walking spirit of his father (I.5).