HAMLET Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou comest in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee. I’ll call thee “Hamlet,” “King,” “Father,” “royal Dane.” O, answer me! Let me not burst in ignorance, but tell Why thy canonized bones, hearsed in death, Have burst their cerements; why the sepulcher, Wherein we saw thee quietly interred, Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws To cast thee up again. What may this mean, That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel Revisits thus the glimpses of the moon, Making night hideous and we fools of nature, So horridly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? Say why is this? Wherefore? What should we do? Rationality Despite Grief Seeing a parental figure return as a ghost can be a jarring experience, especially if one believes in purgatory. Purgatory is the realm where souls are believed to rest and have their sins purged. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet’s astonishment is expressed when Marcello and Horatio reveal that King Hamlet has returned as a ghost. Shakespeare uses biblical allusions and specific diction to highlight that Hamlet feels doubtful yet curious of the relationship between him and the Ghost, showcasing that Hamlet is rational despite his grief for his father. Shakespeare alludes to the angels of Heaven and the demons of Hell to showcase the confusion and surprise that Hamlet feels towards the Ghost. By questioning whether the Ghost is “a spirit of health or goblin damned” (1.4.42), Hamlet emphasizes that he remains unsure if the Ghost is “wicked or charitable” (1.4.45) and what the Ghost intends to do. Despite this, Hamlet is enamored by the Ghost, stating that because it comes “in such a questionable shape” (1.4.46), he will “speak to thee” (1.4.47). The “questionable shape” that Hamlet is referring to is the fact that the ghost takes the form of his father, King Hamlet, which is fascinating to Hamlet. Shakespeare also uses these biblical allusions to show how Hamlet is caught in the middle of opposing mindsets. On one side, the “spirit of health” promises good fortune while the “goblin damned” promises hardship. This further solidifies his dubious outlook but also serves to strengthen his curiosity towards the Ghost because ultimately, he yearns to understand why the ghost of his father has come back to Denmark. This desire for understanding is why Hamlet shows a modicum of restraint in the idea of seeing his father again because he realizes that questioning the purpose of the Ghost’s visit will yield more valuable information rather than sharing a nurturing moment. Furthermore, Shakespeare continues with particular diction in order to emphasize that Hamlet’s emotions are in a limbo between doubt and interest. Hamlet ponders whether he should call the Ghost “‘Hamlet,’ / ‘King,’ ‘Father,’ [or] ‘royal Dane” (1.4.48), which shows to prove that Hamlet is unsure of the emotion he should be experiencing because each name varies in formality. Calling the Ghost “Father” elicits a warm connection, compared to “royal Dane” which elicits a more respectful and distant connection. Immediately following this uncertainty, Hamlet’s curiosity is displayed once more, as he states he would rather not be left to “burst in ignorance” (1.4.49) and would like to understand “Why thy canonized bones, hearsed in death / Have burst their cerements” (1.4.50-51). Hamlet clearly yearns for understanding as to why the Ghost has returned rather than vying for a connection with his father, highlighting how Hamlet retains control. This desire for understanding alongside more dubiousness is displayed throughout the rest of the speech in a questioning format. Hamlet wonders why the Ghost is “in complete steel” (1.4.55) and “Making night hideous” (1.4.57). An undercurrent of panic is detected here, as Hamlet fears the meaning of the Ghost outfitted in armor in the dead of night and further questions “Why is this?” (1.4.60), solidifying his perpetual uncertainty. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet experiences both uncertainty and interest towards the Ghost. Shakespeare uses both biblical allusions and specific diction to highlight this relationship, ultimately proving that Hamlet is rational despite his grief for his father. The overall effect of this speech is a lesson to readers that one must be rational despite their grief and be realistic.