In the Shakespearean time period people believed in ghosts and reported them, so it makes sense that Shakespeare would write about a ghost appearing in the play. The ghost appears to two soldiers Marcellus, and Barnardo, as well as to Hamlet’s friend Horatio, who is an intelligent person. The same ghost appeared to Hamlet several times through out the play also. These facts eliminate the chance of this ghost being a figment of people’s imagination because too many people saw the same thing. In act 1 scene 1 it is revealed that the ghost appeared twice wearing the same armor King Hamlet wore when he fought the ambitious old Fortinbras, King of Norway, and also when he defeated the Poles. Young Fortinbras is determined to get back the land his father lost. This fact brings more in depth evidence to the ghost being real.
To begin with, Horatio shows he believes in ghosts in several ways. He tells Francisco and Bernardo that the ghost looks like King Hamlet, whose death has recently occurred. So it is obvious that he admits he sees something. Then, he tries to get the ghost to talk and seems genuinely frightened at its appearance. Finally, he suggests that they must find Prince Hamlet to see the ghost, in hopes that the ghost may speak to his still-living son. This begins one of the most common motifs of the play: reality or deception. The question becomes, "Is this really the ghost of King Hamlet or some evil spirit bent on destroying Denmark?
In addition to Horatio seeing the ghost, Hamlet also visualizes the deceased king of Denmark. The Ghost of Hamlet’s father is one of the most crucial characters in the play. If not for him, Hamlet would not have been thrown into the state of distress and torment that plagued him throughout the story. Every tragedy needs an element of the supernatural, and in this tale, the Ghost brings forth the reasons for revenge. Although the Ghost only has a few lines, he tells the truths of betrayal and his death to Hamlet. Only one...