In this response, Stephen Greenblatt speaks of hamlet's fathers ghost. While on this subject, Stephen speaks heavily about purgatory. He believes hamlets father is in purgatory, because of what he says to hamlet and how hamlet responds to him. Stephen empathizes this with evidence from the play, "I am thy father's spirit, Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purged away." [1.5.9-13] Stephen goes on to speak about hamlets reactions, the history of purgatory, and what purgatory means for hamlets father.
Stephen explains Hamlet's reactions towards his father are strange. Hamlet is obviously very anxious, knowing his father is in purgatory, he does not directly ask the ghost what after life he is in. Hamlet, before he speaks to his father, while his father is subtly telling him who he is, hamlet tells the guards "I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pounds" [3.2.268-69] because hamlet had seemed to forget his own father.
Discussion questions
1. What could his father have done to have landed himself in purgatory?
2. How could you relate purgatory to this play?
1. The most common explanation for the appearance of ghosts and paranormal activity is that they have unfinished business. I think that King Hamlet is in purgatory because he has unfinished business regarding his death. He was murdered and requires revenge. His "unfinished business" involves his son, his brother and his wife.
ReplyDelete2. Purgatory is an important part in this play. If Hamlet's ghost had "passed on" and had not appeared to Hamlet, there would be no play at all! It is necessary for King Hamlet to be in purgatory because it activates the chain of events that is Shakespeare's Hamlet.
1. I think that Hamlet's father landed himself in purgatory, because he needed to let someone know what his brother did. I think that he was not finished with his brother, because I know that anyone who steals another mans wife, especially a brother would make a person really mad and feel like they have unfinished business with them. I think that having that as unfinished business, plus him being murdered, is enough to land anyone in purgatory. Another theory that I have, is that Hamlet's father needs to speak with his son one more time before he goes wherever he is going. I think this, because I think he needs to give his son some direction in his life.
ReplyDelete2.Purgatory in this play is a way to give the play a basis to go on. Without the ghost coming back there would be no way for Hamlet to know what his uncle has done. I also think that the play builds up for many opportunities to land people in purgatory at the end, but we never get the chance to see it.