The Ghost Of Hamlet's Father

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the ghost of Hamlet's father appears very briefly. However, he provides the basis for the development and eventual downfall of Hamlet's character. The play begins with a dismal Hamlet mourning his father's death Recognizing this gloom, Queen Gertrude urges Hamlet to "cast thy nighted color off, and let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark" (I, ii, 68-69). Soon after, the ghost appears, insisting, "If thou didst ever thy father …

…and (covertly) depressed. The ghost ultimately causes Hamlet's destruction by requiring that his son avenge his death. The ghost also causes Hamlet's feelings of self-doubt and guilt thanks to Hamlet's procrastination -- he never even reaches the task of stopping Fortinbras -- and to his somewhat incestual preoccupation with his mother's and uncle's relationship. The ghost's influence wrenches Hamlet's spirit out of its normal frame so that he destroys himself while simultaneously destroying his enemies.