Hamlet Group
Question:
kristina89
Student
High School - 12th Grade
Why does Shakespeare start the play with the appearance of the Ghost?
What is the "dramatic" purpose of this beginning and what effect do you think it would have on an Elizabethan audience?
Answers:
-
amy-lepore Teacher
High School - 12th GradePosted by amy-lepore on Saturday December 1, 2007 at 3:15 PMJust like ghosts, aliens, and zombies thrill today's audiences in Stephen King films or other horror movies, these paranormal creatures had the same effect on Shakespeare's audiences. Perhaps even moreso since there were so many superstitions then that have since been debunked.
The appearance of a ghost right off the bat captures the audience's attention and puts them right in the palm of the playwright and actors' hands. It's exactly the "ooh-ah" factor Shakespeare needed to capture the audience and keep them for the whole show with his many plots weaving in and out for a couple of hours.
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See Also:
- - For teachers, the Hamlet Lesson Plan.
- - Read the Hamlet text online.
- - Hamlet summary and study guide in the eNotes.