The Supernatural Element in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay

A common motif in Shakespeare’s many plays is the supernatural element, to which Hamlet , with the presence of a ghost, is no exception. The story of Hamlet, the young prince of Denmark, is one of tragedy, revenge, deception, and ghosts. Shakespeare’s use of the supernatural element helps give a definition to the play by being the catalyst of the tragedy that brings upon Hamlet’s untimely demise. The ghost that appears at the beginning of the play could possibly be a satanic figure that causes Hamlet to engage in the terrible acts and endanger his soul. The supernatural element incorporated into the play is used as an instigator, a mentor, as well as mediation for the actions of the protagonist that ultimately end in tragedy, with the loss†¦show more content†¦The foreshadowing of the guard as well as the conduct of the ghost causes the reader to question the motive of its haunting. After the ghost disappears at the crack of dawn, the guards tell Hamlet, who is eager to meet the ghost. Hamlet ends up talking to the ghost, who then reveals himself, as well as his mission: I am thy father’s spirit,/ Doomed for a certain term to walk the night/ And for the day confined to fast in fires/ Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature/ Are burnt and purged away. But I am forbid / to tell the secrets of my prison house†¦ But this eternal blazon must not be/ To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O list!/ If thou didst ever thy dear father love†¦ Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder (Shakespeare I.v) The ghost intermitted admits to being ‘doomed’ and ‘confined†¦fast in fires’, all synonymous with features of Hell. A reader can only deduce that the spirit is evil if it has been damned to be in fire. In addition, the spirit wants Hamlet to avenge his father’s death by killing Claudius. Murder is a cardinal sin: thus, by igniting Hamlet’s desire to kill Claudius, the spirit was encouraging Hamlet to commit a cardinal sin that would damn his soul to hell, which directly conflict with his principles, as mentioned by critic, Skulsky. â€Å"Hamlet has arrayed against it suicide and revenge, that is, breaches of the revealed will of God; and as a partner with Scripture in that revelation, conscience is virtually anShow MoreRelatedThe Use of Supernatural Elements in Shakespeares Hamlet and Kyds the Spanish Tragedy1181 Words   |  5 PagesDiscuss the usage and effects that the supernatural elements have in both Kyds `The Spanish Tragedy and Shakespeares Hamlet. Ghosts or supernatural beings feature both in The Spanish Tragedy, written by Thomas Kyd, in 1587, and in Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, in 1601. 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