King Hamlet

King Hamlet, also known simply as the Ghost of Hamlet's father, is a character from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

Inspirations:
King Hamlet is based loosely on the Jutish chieftain Hordenwill, who appears in the Chronicon Lethrense and Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum.

Description:
King Hamlet is specifically referred to as 'Ghost' in the stage directions of Hamlet. According to certain accounts, he was played by Shakespeare himself.

Story:
King Hamlet appears three times in the play. The first appearance is before the soldiers Bernardo and Marcellus and Hamlet's friend Horatio. Horatio attempts to speak with the Ghost, but it leaves as it is about to strike morning. The guards note two prior appearances of the ghost, and all are seemingly aware that it is of the late king.

Horation recognizes that the Ghost's appearance must be somehow related to matters of state, and so he finds Hamlet and convinces them to stay up 'til midnight and meet with the Ghost. King Hamlet tells the young prince that he had been murdered by his brother Claudius, and requests that Hamlet avenge him. He also states his dissatisfaction with his wife Gertrude fro marrying Claudius, but warns Hamlet not to interact with her.

In King Hamlet's third appearance, Hamlet is confronted by the Ghost in his mother's closet, and is scolded for not carrying out his revenge and for disobeying his instructions by speaking with Gertrude. Following this, the Ghost is not seen again.