The Hamlet Project

I fully support the ghost’s strategy here.
There’s an assumption that Gertrude has these thorns,
That her conscience will nag at her
Sooner or later. He recommends just leaving her be.
I’m a big fan of leaving people be in general –
I’ll always get behind a Mind Your Own Business platform.
Hamlet doesn’t really follow this advice.
He attempts to pull on those thorns in her chest. He tries to jimmy them
Into a pricking position. He pokes at the swelling where they’re embedded
So much so that the ghost makes his only other appearance specifically
To put a stop to it. He doesn’t show up to help Hamlet put a sword
Through Claudius at prayer. He doesn’t nod his head in approval of the play
But he turns back up to tell his son to stop meddling in Gertrude’s heart.
It’s a curious and moving respect that he maintains for his wife. He remains
Her protector, her defender, even after being betrayed by her.
This makes me feel a sort of affection for the ghost when nothing else does.