Are people able to trust their own eyes? If it is possible, then there is little question as to the existence of the ghost, but human eyes are not always the most trustworthy things. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, it is questionable as to whether the ghost is real and Hamlet is truly just using theatrics or if the ghost is a fictitious result of his insanity. Both sides of this question have some strong information supporting them, nevertheless one side may be more plausible than the other.
Various quotations demonstrate the ghost's existence, one of which, “In the same figure, like the king that’s dead”, shows Bernardo describing the ghost appearance, noticing that the figure resembles the previous King. (Shakespeare I.i.41) All of the others, …show more content…
One such piece of evidence was earlier proved the existence of the ghost, but can now be flipped around and prove the opposite. “Before my God, I might not this believe without the sensible and true avouch of mine own eyes.” (Shakespeare I.i.56) Horatio is saying that he would not have believed the ghost existed if he had not seen the ghost with his own eyes. Horatio and the other peoples eyes tricked them. He did not see a real ghost, just visual illusion that looked strange enough that their brain convinced them that what they are seeing is something it is not. Shakespeare is trying to show that people believe their eyes even when they should not. He is saying that they need more evidence than just seeing something to believe it. His purpose of putting this line the play is to get them to second guess something when it does not seem plausible. Hamlet not only saw the ghost, he also heard it speak. If the ghost is just a trick of their eyes, the only way the ghost could speak would as a result of Hamlet’s fall into madness. In the line “If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, Speak to me!” (Shakespeare I.i.128-129) Horatio is demanding that the ghost speak to him, but the ghost does not answer him. Hamlet is the only one that ever hears the Ghost speak. The first time he speaks to
Various quotations demonstrate the ghost's existence, one of which, “In the same figure, like the king that’s dead”, shows Bernardo describing the ghost appearance, noticing that the figure resembles the previous King. (Shakespeare I.i.41) All of the others, …show more content…
One such piece of evidence was earlier proved the existence of the ghost, but can now be flipped around and prove the opposite. “Before my God, I might not this believe without the sensible and true avouch of mine own eyes.” (Shakespeare I.i.56) Horatio is saying that he would not have believed the ghost existed if he had not seen the ghost with his own eyes. Horatio and the other peoples eyes tricked them. He did not see a real ghost, just visual illusion that looked strange enough that their brain convinced them that what they are seeing is something it is not. Shakespeare is trying to show that people believe their eyes even when they should not. He is saying that they need more evidence than just seeing something to believe it. His purpose of putting this line the play is to get them to second guess something when it does not seem plausible. Hamlet not only saw the ghost, he also heard it speak. If the ghost is just a trick of their eyes, the only way the ghost could speak would as a result of Hamlet’s fall into madness. In the line “If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, Speak to me!” (Shakespeare I.i.128-129) Horatio is demanding that the ghost speak to him, but the ghost does not answer him. Hamlet is the only one that ever hears the Ghost speak. The first time he speaks to