What is a Ghost?
A ghost is said to be: The spirit of a dead person, especially one believed to appear in bodily likeness to living persons or to haunt former habitats. (The Free Dictionary) (5)
The Elizabethan Era
The Elizabethan Era was a very violent era. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, there were many executions as well as premature deaths of many men and women. These were the spirits that most likely wandered around the English and Welsh castles, the places most strongly associated with ghosts. (2)
What are some major facts that we should know?
- Hamlet is said to have taken place during a Protestant time period, even though it took place in Denmark..
- The views of ghosts are constantly change over time ex.) in the 1700's, people would have considered the ghost of King Hamlet to be an evil spirit because during that time period, ghosts were thought to be evil. (3)
- During this era, there was a schism between the church and the rural population about the belief of ghosts
- The church believed that once someone dies, their soul goes straight to a non-physical area (Heaven, hell, Purgatory)
- The rural population believed that they shared the land with the ghosts and that the ghosts can return to haunt them (7)
These two groups were not the only ones to clash for their beliefs of ghosts and what happens after a death, the Catholic and the Protestant Faith also had a difference of opinion on this topic.
Note: For more information about the Protestant Faith's beliefs on ghost as well as the Catholic Protestant Fued, visit the Religious Beliefs Page.
What are some major facts that we should know?
- Hamlet is said to have taken place during a Protestant time period, even though it took place in Denmark..
- The views of ghosts are constantly change over time ex.) in the 1700's, people would have considered the ghost of King Hamlet to be an evil spirit because during that time period, ghosts were thought to be evil. (3)
- During this era, there was a schism between the church and the rural population about the belief of ghosts
- The church believed that once someone dies, their soul goes straight to a non-physical area (Heaven, hell, Purgatory)
- The rural population believed that they shared the land with the ghosts and that the ghosts can return to haunt them (7)
These two groups were not the only ones to clash for their beliefs of ghosts and what happens after a death, the Catholic and the Protestant Faith also had a difference of opinion on this topic.
Note: For more information about the Protestant Faith's beliefs on ghost as well as the Catholic Protestant Fued, visit the Religious Beliefs Page.