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Kenneth Branagh The Ghost Analysis

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I watched the 1996 version by Kenneth Branagh and I will try not to repeat what has already been effectively said. The richness in set designs and the utmost care for detailed descriptions of places, elaborated, colorful costumes, as well as the music itself opened it to a much wider audience than theatergoers when it first appeared 20 years ago (Branagh constant challenge). In a certain sense, the Ghost is present from the very beginning of the play even before it shows. In fact, we already know something about him before his first appearance. The Ghost first appears to Bernardo, Marcellus and Horatio. His full figure in armor is lifted in mid-air, majestic, awe-inspiring, detached and his face is not visible; like a sculpture on a church façade. Horatio recognizes him: "Is it not like the King?" asks Marcellus. "As thou are to thyself" Horatio answers. The prediction sets in when Horatio says: "in the gross and scope of my opinion this bodes some strange eruption to our state." …show more content…

An omen of disgrace, a new war and the tension is back as the Ghost reappears. He is still far away, but now his face can be partly seen. Horatio does not receive answers to his questions and calls him "illusion". The news of the Ghost appearance is a premonition to Hamlet: "My father 's spirit - in arms. All is not well. I doubt some foul play". In the last framing of act 2 Hamlet leafs through an antique book and stops at a page titled "Demons their Number and Nature". Finally, father and son meet and tragedy sets in; it will not stop until the final bloodbath of which the Ghost is the "Deus ex machina" and so he will

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