Hamlet's first issue to ponder is regarding the nature of the ghost itself; could it be a demon disguised as his father taking advantage of his vulnerable state of mind and tricking him into murdering Claudius, or is it really King Hamlet come seeking help? ... Many hugely significant issues particularly relevant to Shakespeare's time are deliberated; purgatory, the ghost as a demon or an angel, the validity of revenge, mans mortality and most notably the impossibility and fear of not knowing what comes after death in Hamlets famous "to be or not to be" soliloquy. ...

• Word Count: 1503
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate