Hamlet 3

In Act 1 Scene 5 of Shakespeare's Hamlet, the audience learns that King Hamlet was murdered by his brother, Claudius.  After reading Othello and realizing that all of Hamlet's characters do not speak in the same way that they act, the audience is forced to wonder if the ghost is being honest.  The ghost first reveals that his death was a "foul and most unnatural murder" (I.v.31).  This concept of naturalness corresponds with past scenes in the play.  For example, Claudius earlier tells Hamlet how grieving is natural, but so is moving on, and in turn, his marriage to Gertrude.  The ghost then gives Hamlet more information, saying that "The serpent that did sting thy father's life / Now wears his crown" (I.v.46-47).  In the Bible, snakes are a representative of deceit, like in the story of Adam and Eve.  Unlike a man who would want revenge or be deceitful, such as Iago, the ghost then tells Hamlet not to blame his mother for marrying the King's evil brother: "Leave her to heaven" (I.v.93).  Although the ghost seems genuine, after reading Othello which contained Shakespeare's most evil villain, one must wonder whether the ghost truly was murdered and if he is telling the truth, especially after Hamlet's words and actions do not align.