Hamlet

Vishal Manwani

LCS 121-E

Hamlet

        From my perspective, the study of Hamlet, has overlooked a key dimension to the play; the exact nature of King Hamlet’s ghost. Consequently, the ghost as an “invasive ancestral spirit,”^[1] which according to Jewish folklore, manifested either as a threatening “Dybbuk” or a nonthreatening “Ibbur.”  Apparent from the play, the ghost treats Hamlet with tenderness and care therefore, one can conclude that the ghost manifested as an “Ibbur”. We may conclude that the ghost of King Hamlet has good intentions because he doesn’t command Hamlet to exact vengeance thoughtlessly like everyone assumes, but he urges him to carry out actions with purity of mind. Subsequently, after he commanded vengeance he forced Hamlet to exercise cautious restraint.

        An “Ibbur,” as a protective spirit takes possession of a current living person and executes his mission through the medium of that person. However, a real “Ibbur” must, according to the Jewish folklore, must pass several tests all of which King Hamlet possesses. Firstly, the ghost appears to want to do good deeds and goes on a mission to exact good deeds, which includes absolving his own sin, however, he wanted to do that while bringing Denmark back to spiritual health. Secondly, an “Ibbur” typically represents an ancestral spirit taking over a son or daughter which happened with Hamlet, his son. Finally, an Ibbur cannot take over the host’s body without an invitation. Hamlet yearns for his release from his physical presence and seeks out spiritualization which gave the King a chance to take over his body.

        Evidently, from some of the text, it makes it clear to see how Hamlet, influenced by the King, manipulated his speech and actions. For instance, an example of how his words echoes those of the ghost happened when he spoke to Ophelia, Hamlet addresses her with words only the King could have spoken: “What should such fellows as I do, crawling between earth and heaven?” (3.1.126-7). Subsequently, in the graveyard scene where Hamlet shouts “This is I, Hamlet the Dane!” these words serves as a nominal reference to the King. Additionally, some actions performed by Hamlet indicates his possession by the King. When Hamlet unpredictably but resoundingly defeated Laertes in the duel, one can only infer this happened due to the empowerment of the ghost. This recalls the king’s dueling triumph over Fortinbras as mentioned by Horatio at the outset of the play. Another example includes avenging his father’s death without sin, which he wouldn’t have known to do unless the King spoke to him somehow which further enforces the argument.