Though Hamlet was written to express the tragedy of a kingdom, it also acted as an impression of the times, showing the beliefs and manners of a 12th century Denmark. The ghost, the banquet in the first act, the tragic soliloquys, Danish customs of the court, and the play in act 3 are all examples of social occasions and interactions within the play that exemplify the beliefs and manners of 12th century Denmark.

The appearance of the ghost in the first scene gives the opportunity for the audience to not only understand the characters, but also understand the recent death of King Hamlet and the historical conflict Denmark has had with its fellow Scandinavian Poland. The ghost acts as a beacon to the era, giving us knowledge of the the society in which the characters live without blatantly doing so. Another occasion when the ghost plays a role to help the audienc

e understand Denmark and Danish society happens in scene 4 of act 1 when the king carouses the streets as part of Danish custom. When the carousing begins and the trumpets are blown, the ghost of the dead King appears again, to show the tragedy of a Danish custom improperly used. Hence, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

The play in act 3, scene 2, that Hamlet formulated to expose the King is also a tool formulated by Shakespeare to express Danish society. The entire court attends the play, a common tradition in every kingdom. The play itself begins by stressing the themes of treason, murder, and incest – something the King was aware of, and obviously a common problem within kingdoms due to rivalry and power struggles. The play uses the Duke Gonzago of Vienna to tell the story, much like King Hamlet’s own murder. This shows that, even though European cultures are unlike, struggles for p

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